Welcome to Department of Orthodontics
Welcome to Department of Orthodontics
Life with braces?
It’s easier than you think.
It’s easier than you think.
See how you can care for your braces while still enjoying your favorite foods and activities.
Congratulations! You have officially begun the path towards your healthiest, most beautiful smile. Once you begin your orthodontic treatment, you will have to make a few lifestyle adjustments. Adjusting to life with braces means you must take good care of your teeth, and your braces during treatment. Our tips will help you get used to your new braces in no time!
What do braces feel like?
Having brackets and wires in your mouth will feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to them in just a couple weeks.
COMFORT
No matter what kind of braces you choose, it will feel a little strange when they are first attached. Your teeth might feel larger because of the brackets, and your mouth may feel sensitive as it gets used to the braces.
Discomfort vary from person to person, usually everyone gets used to brace with in couple of weeks. If you have additional appliance with braces there may be slight more discomfort but they are get used to with in 2 weeks.
SPEECH
Sometimes it seems you’re speaking with a lisp, try slowing down your speech until you get used to your new braces.To help speed up your adjustment period, speech pathologists have developed a special exercise called the Rainbow Passage. It’s a short paragraph that contains many of the sounds found in the English language. Practice reading it aloud until you’re comfortable speaking with your new braces. Even if you have traditional metal or clear ceramic braces, you may find it helpful. Check it out!
SORENESS CAUSED FROM BRACES AND APPLIANCES
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just gotten their braces put on, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend using over-the-counter pain medication such as paracetamol (Napa) or ibuprofen (Profen) as necessary to make things more comfortable for the first couple days.
It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. If you have irritation don’t forget the wax that we provided to put over the braces to lessen the irritation. see the
LOOSE TEETH
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
Eating with Braces
EATING WITH BRACES
Don’t worry; you’ll be eating popcorn again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances and lengthen your treatment duration with braces.
THINGS TO AVOID WITH BRACES:
- Sticky foods and candy – toffee, caramels, Starburst, licorice, gummies
- Hard candy – jaw breakers, cinnamon hearts
- Super hard foods – whole nuts, crunchy or frozen granola bars, popcorn, hard pizza crusts
- Chewing ice!!!
- Biting your nails and other hard objects such as pens and pencils
- Any type of bone like chicken, beef.
THINGS TO BE CAREFUL WITH:
- Meat should be cut off the bone
- Corn should be cut off the cob
- Remove pits from fruits such as peaches and plums
- Cut up apples, pears, carrots, and other hard fruits and vegetables instead of biting into them
- Break hard rolls and buns into smaller bites
FOODS YOU CAN EAT WITH BRACES:
- Everything else!
- Take it slow in the beginning with smaller bites and chew gently, and you’ll be back to your normal diet in no time
- GUM! We allow our patients to chew sugarless gum as it gently stimulates the teeth and promotes effective tooth movements. Please avoid bubble gum and other sugared gums as they will cause rapid formation of cavities
ABOUT DRINKS
Tap water and milk are your best choices for drinks while braces are on. Beverages like coffee, tea and red wine can stain teeth. Try to avoid these, or keep them to a minimum. Avoid regular and diet soft drinks when wearing braces. These drinks include soda pop, sports drinks/energy drinks, flavored bubbly waters and fruit drinks (juices, punch). These drinks contain acids and/or sugars that dissolve tooth enamel and can lead to cavities. Be sure to brush right away after drinking a soft drink. If brushing is not possible, rinse thoroughly with water.
Oral hygiene with braces.
Good oral hygiene is extremely important when you’re wearing braces. Think of it this way: you are investing both time and money in a beautiful new smile. It’s worth the extra effort to take care of it properly.
Playing Sports with Braces
Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. If you are going to be playing any sports that require a mouth guard, please let our office know and we will gladly give you one.
In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater
Music
Whether you’re in the choir or just enjoy singing along to the radio, you can still sing with your braces on. If you feel like you’re speaking with a lisp when you first get braces, try practicing the Rainbow Passage until you get comfortable.
If you play a wind or brass instrument, you may be wondering if braces will get in the way. Good news: you can still play your instrument! Ask your orthodontist whether you should use a special mouth guard or lip protector. You may be able to get a custom lip guard through your orthodontist’s office.
Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.
What happens after my braces are removed?
Once your braces are removed, it’s easy to take care of your new smile.
The waiting is over: start enjoying your new smile! Believe it or not, your teeth may actually feel strange after your braces are removed. By “strange,” we mean smaller, smoother, straighter – in other words, camera-ready! Life after braces is all about caring for and showing off your new smile. Trust us: you’ll make this adjustment in no time.
Your teeth may feel sensitive for the first few days as they get used to standing on their own, but this won’t last long. As always, it’s very important to keep brushing and flossing regularly. Ask your orthodontist about any other instructions you should follow after your treatment.
Retainers help make sure your teeth “remember” their new positions. Some retainers are removable, clear plastic trays for the top or bottom teeth. Others are permanently attached to the back of your teeth, out of sight, meant to be worn for a couple years. It’s important to wear your retainer as instructed. You’ve already invested a lot of time in your new smile – this extra effort will be worth it to make sure your teeth stay beautifully straight!