Embarking on the journey to a straighter, stunning smile with braces is exciting, yet comes with its own set of challenges. From adjusting to eating, speaking, and maintaining proper oral hygiene, there’s a lot for new braces wearers to navigate. Moreover, the importance of proper care and maintenance of braces cannot be overstated, as these contribute significantly to the success of the treatment. This blog post aims to provide tips for new braces wearers, guiding you through various stages of your braces journey, from preparation to maintenance, dealing with discomfort, managing emergencies, and celebrating milestones.
Preparing for Braces
Your braces journey begins with the selection of the right orthodontist and a suitable treatment plan. Research your options, ask for recommendations, and don’t shy away from asking prospective orthodontists all your questions.
Understanding the different types of braces available can also help you make an informed decision. These are the types of braces you can find at Dr. Andy’s office:
- Traditional Metal Braces: These are the most common type of braces, composed of high-grade stainless steel brackets and wires, which apply consistent pressure to move teeth into their correct positions over time.
- Incognito Braces: Known as lingual braces, these are affixed to the back of the teeth (the lingual side), making them virtually invisible to others while still effectively shifting your teeth into alignment.
- Invisalign: Invisalign uses a series of custom-made, clear plastic aligners that are replaced every few weeks to gradually move teeth into their desired positions, offering an almost invisible and removable alternative to traditional braces.
- LightForce Braces: LightForce braces are a form of orthodontic treatment that uses 3D printing technology to create custom-made, lighter, and more comfortable braces, offering a more personalized and efficient treatment process.
Adjusting to Life with Braces
Entering into the world of braces presents an array of immediate challenges, the first of which often revolves around making the necessary adjustments to your daily routines. The initial few days and weeks may seem daunting, but patience and perseverance will help you quickly adapt to this new normal.
Dealing with Speech Challenges
One of the first noticeable effects of getting braces may be changes in speech. As your mouth adjusts to the new hardware, you may experience a slight lisp or have trouble pronouncing certain words. This is largely due to the additional space taken up by the braces, which slightly alters the way your tongue moves when you talk.
Don’t be discouraged – your tongue, like the rest of you, is capable of adaptation. Practice talking, reading aloud, or even singing to speed up this adjustment period. Over time, your tongue will find its way around your braces, and your speech will return to normal.
Learning How to Eat with Braces
Eating with new braces is another area where adjustments are needed. In the beginning, you may find it more difficult to bite and chew. Opting for softer foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, or pasta during this initial period can make eating more comfortable.
It’s also essential to cut your food into smaller pieces and chew with your back teeth to prevent damaging your braces. This might slow down your eating pace, but consider it a great chance to practice mindful eating, which can aid digestion and increase the enjoyment of your meals.
Managing Food Restrictions
On the topic of food, it’s also crucial to be mindful of food restrictions. Foods that are hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy should generally be avoided, as they can cause damage to your braces and impede the progress of your treatment.
Examples include hard candies, popcorn, caramel, nuts, and crusty bread. However, with creativity and adjustments in your food preparation, you can still enjoy a diverse and tasty diet. Fruits like apples and carrots which can be hard on your braces can be cooked, grated or sliced thinly to make them more braces-friendly.
Coping with Soreness and Irritation
Finally, dealing with potential soreness and irritation in your mouth is another challenge new braces wearers often encounter. It’s normal for your mouth, particularly your gums and the insides of your cheeks, to feel irritated, especially in the first few days after getting braces or following an adjustment.
Over-the-counter oral gels can help to alleviate this discomfort, as can rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.
Orthodontic wax can also be a great resource to prevent brackets or wires from causing discomfort. With time, your mouth will form callouses in the necessary areas, and this discomfort will subside.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial when wearing braces. It involves mastering proper brushing and flossing techniques to keep your braces and teeth clean and free from debris.
Ask your orthodontist to recommend suitable oral hygiene tools, such as orthodontic toothbrushes, flossers, and mouthwash, specially designed for braces wearers.
Dealing with Emergencies
Occasionally, new braces wearers may encounter some minor emergencies, such as a broken bracket or loose wire. It’s important to know what to do in these situations, which includes contacting your orthodontist immediately for advice or assistance. Timely and appropriate action can prevent further complications.
Staying Committed to Treatment
Compliance is key to achieving the best results from your braces treatment. This means attending all your appointments, following your orthodontist’s instructions and recommendations, and maintaining motivation throughout the duration of treatment. Remember, the benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile will outweigh any temporary inconvenience.
Tips for Sports and Physical Activities
For those involved in sports and other physical activities, it’s crucial to protect your braces from potential damage. Using mouthguards can help shield your braces during sports. Consider alternatives or modifications during contact sports to ensure your braces’ safety.
Coping with Social Situations
Feeling self-conscious about wearing braces is common. However, one of the tips for new braces wearers is to embrace this part of your journey towards a beautiful smile. The reality is that most people won’t care. Actually, many of your peers likely had orthodontic treatment themselves or are wearing braces right now too!
The long term benefit of braces is a potentially lifelong improvement to your smile and oral health. You’ll be happy you took such a big step towards improving your health when you can avoid the potential risks of untreated orthodontic problems through your most exciting years of your life!
Celebrating Progress and Milestones
Braces are a journey, and it’s important to celebrate your progress and milestones along the way. Document your smile transformation through photos and acknowledge each step forward in your treatment.
Rewarding yourself for reaching certain milestones can keep motivation levels high. After all, what you’re doing is a great thing for you – physically and emotionally!
Maintaining Good Habits After Braces
Once your braces come off, your orthodontic journey is not over. Wearing retainers as directed by your orthodontist is vital to ensure your teeth remain in their new positions. Continue practicing good oral hygiene habits, like regular brushing and flossing, and maintaining regular dental check-ups. Following these tips for new braces wearers, even after your braces are off, will ensure the long-term benefits of your braces treatment.
Remember, while wearing braces can be challenging at times, the end result – a beautiful, confident smile – is more than worth it.
Contact Doctor Andy Today!
Do you have questions about caring for your teeth after braces? We can answer your questions to keep your teeth and gums healthy – schedule a free consultation! Contact us online or call 440-842-8015
Stay connected with Doctor Andy on Social Media!
