How to Get Used to Braces

When you first get new braces, it may take a few days for you and your mouth to get used to them. During this time, you may find yourself feeling your braces with your tongue and experiencing some discomfort. Don’t worry. This is perfectly normal, and with some tips and tricks from our Orthodontist in Ponte Vedra, FL, you’ll learn how to get used to braces quickly. Your braces should feel like a normal part of your mouth in no time.

1. You Are Experiencing Excess Salivation.

When we first adhere your new braces to your teeth, you may experience some excess salivation due to your mouth mistaking your new braces as food. This should subside after your braces have been in your mouth for a few hours.

2. Your Braces Rub Against Your Lips or Cheeks.

You may find that your braces are rubbing against your lips and/or cheeks. This is a normal part of the adjustment process and can last up to five days after your braces are affixed to your teeth. If you find that you are developing a sore from your braces, go ahead and place a little dental wax over the brace or wire that is irritating your mouth. An additional tip on how to get used to braces is to rinse your mouth with a glass of water and about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to relieve irritation and help the sore heal. Sores and irritation along your lips and cheeks should dissipate within the first week.

3. Your Wires Feel Extremely Tight.

Some types of braces have automatically adjusting wires. These wires tighten when exposed to body heat. If your wires feel exceptionally tight or uncomfortable, our dentist recommends rinsing your mouth with ice water which will help relax the wires for a short amount of time.

4. Your Mouth Is Sore.

Getting your braces put on your teeth isn’t a painful process, but you may experience soreness for a few days after your appointment and any time your wires are manually tightened or if you have self-adjusting wires. For these times, you can take an over the counter pain reliever or anti-inflammatory that is age-appropriate. If you are unsure as to which OTC pain medication to use, our dentist can recommend products.

5. You Are Unsure What Foods to Eat.

Another tip on how to get used to braces is knowing what foods to eat. When you first get your braces, it can be difficult to remember what foods you can and cannot eat. Our pediatric dentist in Ponte Vedra, FL will supply you with a list of friendly and unfriendly foods for braces. For the first 48 hours, you should focus on eating soft foods. This is because the adhesive used to attach your braces takes about 48 hours to fully set. During that time, you will want to avoid hard and excessively chewy and sticky foods. After the first 48 hours, you will still want to avoid hard, sticky and extremely chewy foods, but you may be able to cut fruits, vegetables, and meats into small pieces and eat them slowly. If you have questions about the types of food you can eat for the first few days to weeks after getting your braces, feel free to call our dental office and ask.

6. Your Dental Hygiene Routine Will Change.

After you get your braces, you will have to adjust to a more vigilant dental hygiene routine because there are more areas in your mouth where food particles can get trapped. Our dentist recommends brushing in the morning and in the evening as well as after every meal and flossing once a day. The process of brushing and flossing your teeth will also take longer. This is because you have to brush along every surface of your teeth and around and over the brackets and wires. Additionally, You will want to rinse your mouth each night with a fluoride rinse to ensure all the food particles have been removed from your mouth before you go to bed. This will help avoid cavities around the brackets.

For more tips and tricks on how to get used to braces and to schedule an appointment with your Ponte Vedra Orthodontist to see if braces would help straighten your child’s smile, call us at 904-373-5120.