Getting braces is a big milestone in a person’s life! Starting this journey toward a lifelong beautiful smile can sometimes have a bit of a bumpy start for some patients. The good news is that getting used to braces should only last a few days and then you will be on your way to a straight smile. Keep reading for Dr. Harris’ best tips on how to get used to braces.
Stock up BEFORE your appointment on soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, scrambled eggs, pudding, and other soft foods. You don’t want to come home after your appointment and find there is nothing in the house easy to eat.
Danger Zone Foods
Avoid foods that are chewy, sticky, or hard. These types of foods can not only be uncomfortable to eat in the first few days after your braces are put on, but they can actually damage your braces too. Stay away from nuts, pretzels, hard or chewy candy, crunchy raw fruits and vegetables, and other difficult to chew foods.
There are two main kinds of discomfort that people experience directly after they have braces put on. One is pain from pressure and the other is sores or raw spots in their mouths from the braces rubbing against the inside of their mouth. Unfortunately, both of those just come with the new braces territory, but the good news is they are both easy to treat!
For pressure pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. For sore spots in your mouth, use a little bit of orthodontic wax on your braces where they are rubbing. This will create a barrier between your appliance and your mouth to stop sores from forming. We have complimentary wax at the office, so don’t forget to ask our team for some at your appointment!
Keep Up Healthy Habits
Do not let getting used to braces be an excuse to forget your everyday oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing (or using a floss threader or water flosser) are just as important as they were before – if not more so! Now there are more nooks and crannies for food particles to get stuck, so make sure you remember not to fall behind on basic dental health.
Eyes on the Prize
When your braces seem uncomfortable, remember that this is only temporary. Generally, discomfort should be gone within a week. If for some reason it isn’t, give us a call. It’s very rare, but there could be something else going on that we need to check out. Most importantly remember, that this is the beginning of a journey where a beautiful lifelong smile is waiting at the end.