What should I expect once I get my braces on?
We've all heard horror stories about how much braces hurt. Well, having worn them ourselves we can assure you that this is usually not the case. This is not to say that there will not be any discomfort. When the braces are placed and an archwire is engaged, the initial reaction of the teeth is to begin to loosen. Remember, they need to be loose to move so don't be alarmed when you can wiggle them a little. The discomfort is similar to that of having loose primary "baby" teeth except now you have a lot of teeth getting loose at once. Almost always the discomfort can be relieved with either Tylenol® or Advil® taken as directed. Also, chewing sugarfree gum when your braces are placed can be helpful in relieving some of your discomfort.
The initial wires are thermally sensitive meaning that you can eat or drink something cold so that the "tension" in the wire will be lessened. Conversely, eating or drinking something warm or hot will increase the "tension" in the wire. Both effects are transient and force levels become constant again at their predetermined levels once the wire returns to oral temperature.
Your lips and cheeks need time to adapt to the braces as well and sores may develop. You can place wax on your braces that are causing the sores until they heal. Rinsing with warm salt water (1 tsp. To 8 oz. of warm water) will help to cleanse and heal.
Eating with Braces
What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.
Foods to Avoid
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
- Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
Loosening of Teeth
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions.
Loose Wire or Band
Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.
Care of Appliances
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.
Brushing
It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
