Questions For Anyone That Is Planning To Get Braces

If you are someone that is going to be getting braces soon or just had them put on, it helps to know what it is like living with them so that you have a good idea about what to expect. Here are some questions you likely have about the overall experience. 

Is It Painful To Get Braces?

The actual process of having the braces put on your teeth is not going to hurt. However, the first week can be a bit rough. Your teeth are going to feel uncomfortable due to the pressure that is being put on your teeth, which is something that takes a few days to get used to. The soft tissues inside your mouth are also not going to be used to the sensation of having the metal brackets and wires rub against them, so you can expect more cuts to happen on the inside of your cheek. Thankfully, all these problems go away fairly soon after the braces go on.

It will help to have some items to get you through that first week. For example, there is dental wax that can go over the brackets to make them feel softer on your cheek. You may also want to use a mouth rinse that is specifically designed to treat mouth sores. Plan to take a pain reliever as well to help get you through any discomfort.

What Is It Like To Eat With Braces?

You can expect food to constantly be stuck in your brackets after eating a meal. While it is easy to brush your teeth when you are at home for breakfast or dinner, you may be out during the day and have no easy way to brush your teeth. Consider getting an interdental brush that you can take with you. It works great at cleaning food off the brackets and removing food that is stuck between your teeth. It's small enough that you can take it with you wherever you go.

How Do You Floss With Braces?

The hardest part about caring for your teeth while wearing braces is flossing. You simply won't be able to push the floss down to the gumline to really get in there. Consider purchasing special tools to help you get this job done, such as a water flosser or floss threader. The water flosser may be the easiest and fastest way to floss since it shoots water between the teeth to remove any plaque and debris that is stuck in there. 

Contact an orthodontist if you have more questions.


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