New to braces? No problem! Here’s some insight on making your first week with braces a success. This will all be reviewed when you get your braces on, but we know it’s a lot of information to take in after a long appointment. So here’s a quick guide to lean on!
Feeling some discomfort?
No worries, this is normal and will fade away! Think about it, your teeth have been rooted in place for a number of years. Now, there’s an object in your mouth that is moving them into a different position. Some discomfort is absolutely normal! Here are some things you can do to help alleviate any discomfort.
- For pain, you can take what you normally would for a headache
- For a poking wire, or a bracket that’s rubbing against your cheeks, use warm salt water rinses every 4 to 6 hours
- You can also put wax on any areas that seem to be poking
Wax is a great temporary solution for a poking wire or a bracket that has popped off the tooth. The wax helps to temporarily hold those pieces in place until you can see the doctor to get it fixed. We do not recommend using wax too often from the start because long term use can affect your braces’ ability to move your teeth correctly.
Taking care of your braces
Good oral hygiene helps your brackets stay in place. Developing a thorough cleaning routine from the start will help you stay on track with your hygiene. When you are brushing, be sure to brush around the brackets (above at a downward angle, below at an upward angle, on each side of the bracket) and not just on the surface of the bracket. This will guarantee you are making contact with the tooth and prevent plaque build up.
We recommend purchasing a water pick for flossing. It’s a lot faster than threading the floss through the wire of each tooth individually, and does an excellent job of accessing those hard to reach places! Staying on top of your oral hygiene means less visits to the office and faster progress!
Think about what and how you are eating
Did you just pick up a piece of popcorn while you’re reading this? Please, put it down! We know it may be a habit to grab, but we can promise it will be worth the wait. Popcorn is notorious for popping those brackets right off!
Cut your larger sized foods (sandwiches, pizza slices, burgers etc.) into bite sized pieces rather than biting directly into the food and pulling back. This puts tension on your brackets and can pull them off your teeth. Smaller pieces help prevent breakage and keep your treatment time on track.
Here’s what not to eat with braces:
- Hard foods and candy such as nuts, raw carrots and jolly ranchers
- Chewy and sticky foods like gum, caramels or lollipops
- Ice
- Tough foods to bite into such as corn on the cob or whole apples
Bracket off so soon?
Perhaps you’ve bit into something that maybe you shouldn’t have and your bracket has popped right off! If you’ve just started treatment, don’t stress! It’s likely you are in what we call “lighter wires.” These wires don’t move as quickly as “finishing wires.” Give us a call so that we can be sure we find the best time to get you in and get it fixed! The more info you give us, the better we can assist.
After the first week in braces, your mouth should have adjusted pretty well. If you have questions about your braces, call the office! We are here to help make this process as smooth as possible for you. Here at Becker Orthodontics, we don’t just focus on a beautiful end result, we care about the journey that gets you there!
