Life with (Traditional) Braces 

It happened, you got braces! Congratulations, you my friend, are on your way to a healthy, happier and straighter smile! Of course your smile has always been beautiful, because it has been on you. However, braces are not only an important factor and tool for your overall health, but in some weird, twisted initiation plot, braces have almost become a societal rite of passage. While several people wait to obtain their “metal mouths” until later in life, or sometimes not at all, it is important to keep up with your oral health and schedule regular dentist check-ups. But that is not you! You have your braces, so now you may be wondering what life may be like with a mouth full of wires and brackets.

Simply because you have metal braces attached to your teeth, does not mean your life will change…dramatically. There will be some things that you will need to pay attention to and keep up with, however, these small extra steps to ensure the fastest and most effective orthodontic journey will see, like small sacrifices in the grand scheme of it all.

The most noticeable aspect of getting traditional braces comes right away on day one. Most patients will feel sore and report a slight pressure, some may even obtain a headache. Over the counter pain relievers can help to reduce inflammation and tenderness. This will not be the only time by the way, anytime you go in for an adjustment this slight pain maybe felt again, but that only means that your teeth are adjusting and moving into their new place; pain=good! You may also feel the small pokes of the new wires sliding against the inside of your cheek. Your orthodontist should have some dental wax on hand that can be applied to the ends of the wires, helping to buffer the pokes a little better. This wax can also be found in most grocery and drugstores, and can be used as a temporary fix if any brackets or wires come loose. If this happens, make sure to call your orthodontist ASAP!

The other bummer of getting traditional braces comes from the limited consumption of certain food items. That’s right, there are 2 types of foods anyone with braces should avoid: sticky and hard/crunchy foods. These can be anything from apples and popcorn, to bagels and gum. There are some sneaky way to get around eating some of these items if you find you just cannot resist! Ask your Orlando orthodontistsome of these alternative methods.

More nooks and crannies from brackets and wires means more attention and detail cleaning on your teeth. When brushing your teeth (after every meal, trust us- you’ll want to) you will need to take a little more time than usual, to ensure that you got out every single leftover in your mouth. Your orthodontist will go over best practices when it comes to brushing with braces. Another thing you will want to pay attention to is if you are an athlete, how to carefully avoid injury to the mouth. Taking a blow to the face hurts enough on its own, but getting hit while wearing braces can cause even more damage as the hardware can severally damage teeth, gums, tissue and more. Mouth guards will become your new best friend at your games/matches/meets/etc.