You've taken a big step! You're now officially on the path towards the healthiest, most beautiful smile possible. It’s an exciting time, but it also comes with a bit of a learning curve. Don't worry — as you get used to your orthodontic treatment, these adjustments will become second nature before you know it!
Easing Into Comfort
The first few days with metal braces can be accompanied by tenderness and soreness. This is completely normal and usually subsides within a week.
- Soreness Relief: If you find yourself experiencing discomfort, try swishing and gargling with warm salt water for a few minutes. (You only need about a tablespoon of salt in a small glass of water.) If this doesn't help, over-the-counter pain relievers like Acetaminophen (Tylenol) are the best option, provided you do not have an allergy.
- Irritated Spots: Your lips, cheeks, or tongue may feel irritated for the first week or two, but this will subside as your mouth gets used to them. If needed, you can use the dental wax we provide you with to cover up spots on your braces that may be irritating or cutting into your cheek and gums.
Care & Maintenance: Your Team Effort
It’s incredibly important to maintain excellent oral hygiene habits while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Thorough brushing and flossing keep bacteria at bay, which keeps your whole mouth healthier in the long run.
- Brushing: Brush thoroughly after every meal or snack. If you’re not able to brush right away, rinsing your mouth with water will help until you can get to a toothbrush.
- The Right Tools: Use fluoride toothpaste with a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush. Replace your brush as soon as it begins to show signs of wear!
- Flossing: Floss every night before you go to bed. Tools like floss threaders and Waterpiks are helpful if you’re having difficulty getting a good floss underneath the wires.
Eating With Braces: What to Enjoy (and What to Avoid)
In order to protect your new braces and ensure that your treatment goes smoothly, there are a few dietary adjustments you’ll need to make. Don’t worry — there are tons of delicious foods you can still enjoy!
- Foods You Can Enjoy: Soft cheese, pudding, milk, soft tortillas, pancakes, pasta, soft cooked rice, poultry, tender meats, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, applesauce, bananas, smoothies, and soft cookies.
- Foods to Avoid: Chewy foods (bagels, licorice, pizza crusts), crunchy foods (popcorn, chips, ice, hard candies), sticky foods (caramel, gummy candies), hard foods (nuts), and foods that require biting into (corn on the cob, apples, ribs, chicken wings).
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Best team and best doctor. I love the team.
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The best orthodontic office I have ever worked with! Highly recommended.
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Today, I had an appointment to receive my Invisalign trays. Everyone was very nice & very informative. The dental assistant (I forgot her name) explained everything throughly! I can’t wait to see my end results. And the countdown begins!
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Handling Little Fixes at Home
If any part of your braces comes loose or breaks, be sure to contact Dr. Kaplan right away to determine your next steps. While you wait, here are a few guidelines:
- Loose Wires, Bands & Brackets: If a bracket is broken but still attached to the wire, cover it with orthodontic wax if it’s causing irritation. If a piece has come off, save it for us to inspect!
- Poking Wires: If the archwire moves and pokes out, try using the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab to gently tuck it back into position. Use wax for comfort, but call us soon so we can fix the actual problem!
- Loose Teeth: It’s normal, if disconcerting, to feel as though your teeth are slightly loosened. This is a sign that your braces are doing exactly what we want them to! Once they settle into their new positions, they’ll stop feeling loose.
Tips for Athletes & Musicians
You can still play sports as normal during your treatment, but remember to protect your teeth with an orthodontic-friendly mouth guard. If you play an instrument, it’s normal to have some difficulty adjusting, but the liberal use of wax and warm salt-water rinses will help your lips and cheeks toughen up more quickly than you’d think.
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