Tips on the First Weeks of Having Braces
Are you a candidate for braces? According to the American Association of Orthodontics, there are 4.5 million Americans wearing braces with 80 percent of those ranging from age 6 to 18!
Here are some handy tips for the first weeks of getting your braces on to help your child feel better prepared.
Ask Questions!
Our team is more than happy to help explain things further so that you and your child walk away feeling confident navigating life with braces. No question is a dumb question! We’ll do our best to provide you with everything you need to know for these first weeks in braces. You can check out some general Orthodontic questions on our previous blog.
Use Orthodontic Relief Wax
Getting braces on takes time, between 20 minutes to an hour, depending on how many teeth will have brackets. Once your braces are placed, your lips, tongue, and cheeks may get irritated from the hardware. This goes away after a few weeks once your mouth adjusts. If your child’s lips or cheeks are irritated, placing a ball of wax over the potential sharp area can provide a huge relief.
Stock Up on These Food Items
You will want to eat soft foods during the first days as your mouth might be a little sensitive from the shifting of your teeth. Stay clear from anything sticky or crunchy as these types of foods can get stuck in your brackets or damage the wire. Below are some examples on what foods we recommend to eat.
- Yogurt
- Soup
- Mashed Potatoes
- Smoothies
- Apple Sauce
- Soft Cheeses
- Pudding or Custard
Master Brushing and Flossing
It is critically important to take good care of your teeth while wearing braces! Be sure to brush thoroughly twice daily, especially along the gum line between your brackets and gums.
You will also want to floss by threading string floss under your wire between each bracket by hand or with a flossing tool.
After a few weeks you’ll hardly even notice your new hardware and you’ll be one step closer to that perfect smile!
Give us a call today, (949) 644-0611, so we can evaluate your child and see if they are a candidate for braces!
