What to Expect After Getting Braces
Congratulations on your new braces! You are one step closer to a beautiful smile. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.
What to Expect From Your First Days with Braces?
Getting braces is an exciting first step toward a healthier, more confident smile. After we place the brackets and wires on your teeth, it’s common to feel some tightness or discomfort a few hours later. This is a normal part of the adjustment process as your teeth begin to respond to the gentle pressure. To ease any soreness, we recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or Ibuprofen (Advil®). These medications can help minimize any initial pain and make your transition into braces smoother.
In addition to some sensitivity, your lips, cheeks, and tongue may take a few days to get used to the new appliances in your mouth. Eating softer foods like soup, yogurt, or mashed potatoes can make mealtime more comfortable during this adjustment period. The discomfort usually lasts only a few days and gradually subsides as your mouth adapts. Rest assured, this is temporary—and before you know it, your braces will start doing their job of gently moving your teeth into alignment. If you ever feel severe pain or something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to contact our office. We're here to help every step of the way.
Here Are Some Normal Things to Expect:
What to Eat
Following your appointment it’s a good idea to stick to eating soft foods. Your teeth will feel completely normal after about one day and then you can follow our advice listed here on eating with braces.
Experiencing Loose Teeth
It is normal that some teeth may feel loose as they begin to move into the correct position. Don’t worry, they will go back to feeling normal again once they have reached their intended position.
My Lips and Cheeks Feel Sore
Sometimes, your braces and the wires can rub against your lips or cheeks causing some irritation. To remedy this, you can administer the wax we provide or sometimes rinsing with warm salt water helps. Like the other minor irritations, as you get used to having braces, this will go away and you won’t even notice you are wearing braces.
Broken Brackets
Braces can come unglued from the teeth during treatment or after the initial appointment. Typically this is not a cause for alarm and can generally wait to be fixed. Call us at the office so we can book an appointment to remedy the situation and give you instructions on what to do in the meantime.
Altered Bite
Sometimes we glue material to your teeth changing your bite slightly when the braces are placed on your teeth. You may also experience an altered bite when your teeth begin moving. This is completely normal and part of treatment.
