“How do you survive the first week of braces?”
I am a 17 year old female and I will be getting braces. How do you survive the first week of braces?
8 Answers
i have found self ligating significantly reduces pain along with tylenol and advil before your appointment
You just do
Believe me, you will.
A good question for your orthodontist. If they don't give you some wax, you can pick some up at the drug store to put over the brackets. May need a little Tylenol or ibuprofen, probably softer foods for a couple of days.
Your orthodontist will give you wax to place on the brackets and likely recommend ibuprofen for soreness. It really isn't too bad if you know what to expect and how to handle it. Good luck!
Jossi Stokes, DDS
Jossi Stokes, DDS
You can expect some soreness for a day or two following getting your braces. The best way to deal with that is Tylenol. The soreness will disappear as your teeth begin to move. Also, eat soft foods and keep up your oral hygiene.
Hope this helps,
Steven Chamish, DDS
Hope this helps,
Steven Chamish, DDS
First of all RELAX! DEPENDING ON YOUR DENTIST AND YOUR SITUATION, YOU WILL FLOSS AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH CORRECTLY.
YOU WILL KEEP YOUR APPLIANCE CLEAN
YOU MAY WANT TO START SLOWLY WITH EATING. SOFT FOODS, EATING SMALL MEALS AND RINSING YOUR MOUTH WITH WARM SALT WATER FREQUENTLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY DISCOMFORT TAKE WHAT MEDICATION YOUR DENTIST SUGGESTS. KEEPING YOUR GUMS AND TEETH CLEAN WILL CONTRIBUTE TO KEEPING YOUR TISSUES HEALTHY.
YOU WILL KEEP YOUR APPLIANCE CLEAN
YOU MAY WANT TO START SLOWLY WITH EATING. SOFT FOODS, EATING SMALL MEALS AND RINSING YOUR MOUTH WITH WARM SALT WATER FREQUENTLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY DISCOMFORT TAKE WHAT MEDICATION YOUR DENTIST SUGGESTS. KEEPING YOUR GUMS AND TEETH CLEAN WILL CONTRIBUTE TO KEEPING YOUR TISSUES HEALTHY.
Hello,
The best way to survive the first week of braces is to be well prepared and think about things before they happen. Eventually things will settle in and a new normal will get established.
The first thing to plan for is the possibility of discomfort. Discomfort can come from a variety of sources when braces are used. The first source is after the wire is put on. This is a tightness that is felt of the teeth and after a day the teeth become sore. This can be handled with an over the counter medicine recommended by your doctor.
Another common source of discomfort comes from the brackets that hold the wire. Talking and eating causes the lips to rub against these brackets causing soreness and irritation. As the irritation happens the area may swell a little bit which means it contacts the bracket even more. All this can be remedied by making sure to have some orthodontic wax (sold in pharmacies) on hand at all times. A little wax will smooth out the bracket and allow everything to heal.
The second thing to plan for is eating. Remember that eating happens multiple times every day so it can be very frustrating. The best way to plan for meals is to thing about whether the meal will be at home or out. At home there are more resources to clean the braces after a meal (as well as a private bathroom). Secondly, think about what type of meals to eat. Shredded chicken or beef, or spaghetti would not be a good choice as it will wrap all around the wires and brackets. Finally it is good to know if the doctor plans put anything on your teeth to prevent them from coming together completely. This means that there will only be a couple of stops to chew on (making chewy meals difficult). Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
The best way to survive the first week of braces is to be well prepared and think about things before they happen. Eventually things will settle in and a new normal will get established.
The first thing to plan for is the possibility of discomfort. Discomfort can come from a variety of sources when braces are used. The first source is after the wire is put on. This is a tightness that is felt of the teeth and after a day the teeth become sore. This can be handled with an over the counter medicine recommended by your doctor.
Another common source of discomfort comes from the brackets that hold the wire. Talking and eating causes the lips to rub against these brackets causing soreness and irritation. As the irritation happens the area may swell a little bit which means it contacts the bracket even more. All this can be remedied by making sure to have some orthodontic wax (sold in pharmacies) on hand at all times. A little wax will smooth out the bracket and allow everything to heal.
The second thing to plan for is eating. Remember that eating happens multiple times every day so it can be very frustrating. The best way to plan for meals is to thing about whether the meal will be at home or out. At home there are more resources to clean the braces after a meal (as well as a private bathroom). Secondly, think about what type of meals to eat. Shredded chicken or beef, or spaghetti would not be a good choice as it will wrap all around the wires and brackets. Finally it is good to know if the doctor plans put anything on your teeth to prevent them from coming together completely. This means that there will only be a couple of stops to chew on (making chewy meals difficult). Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
