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What to Know Before Getting Braces

What to Know Before Getting Braces
Posted on 11/20/2019
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What to Know Before Getting Braces

Getting braces soon and don’t know what to expect? Our Walnut Creek orthodontist is here to help! Check out Smile Power’s list of what you need to know before getting your metal or ceramic braces.

Is it Painful?

This is one of the first questions most people have and the short answer is that you will feel some occasional discomfort, but it is usually quite mild and manageable. Understand that from the start you will feel the most discomfort as you get used to your new braces, but that will subside and soon enough you might not even notice that you have them anymore. To understand what you will feel, it’s a light pressure that you can take care of very easily with a cold compress or a dose of over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.

What Foods Should You Avoid?

At first you may have some difficulty with eating, but don’t worry, similarly to the initial discomfort of braces, this too will pass. You will have to alter your diet slightly, but this doesn't mean that you’re going to have to change everything or give up all of your favorite foods. A good rule of thumb is to generally stick to softer foods such as pasta, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or yogurt, but you aren't limited to these options. What you should really focus on is what to avoid, such as:
Hard or crunchy foods like nuts, hard candy, or crunchier chips
Overly chewy foods like beef jerky or gummy candies
Sticky foods such as gum, toffee, licorice and caramel
Foods that you need to bite into like corn on the cob or apples (however corn on its own is fine as well as sliced apples).

How Long Will You Have to Wear Braces?

Everybody’s situation is different and whether you are getting metal braces or clear braces, your orthodontist at Smile Power Orthodontics can give you an estimate when you get your braces put on. Of course, this is just an estimate, but as your orthodontist observes the movement of your teeth, they will be able to give you a more accurate estimate accordingly.

How to Take Care of Your Teeth With Braces

Caring for your teeth with braces may start with avoiding certain foods; however, there are also some special care that must be taken in cleaning your teeth. Brushing your teeth will take slightly longer, but it’s also very important that you do it thoroughly. Use a toothbrush with a small head and take care to spend some time after each meal both brushing and flossing. Along with this, you should finish each brushing and flossing session with an antiseptic mouthwash to kill lingering germs. It’s not a bad idea to get into the habit of taking your toothpaste, toothpaste and dental floss with you.

If you play sports, it’s also important to protect your braces with a mouthguard. Consult with your orthodontist about getting one fitted for you. Your braces won’t harm your cheeks or the inside of your mouth with a well fitted guard. This will also help keep the brackets from coming loose, of course in the event that this does happen, be sure to make an appointment to get this repaired as soon as possible.

Contact Smile Power Orthodontics Today!

It’s very common to have some concerns before you get your braces, however if you have any questions you can contact our offices during our hours and our orthodontists will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Smile Power Orthodontics is proud to provide the premier orthodontic care to the Walnut Creek area and are here to help you through your orthodontic treatment.