Getting braces may seem daunting, but a little preparation goes a long way. By knowing what to prepare for ahead of time, you can make your experience with braces go smoothly. Here are four essential tips for once you get your braces.
1. Treating The Pain Naturally
There’s usually some discomfort that comes with braces, especially after tightening’s and adjustments. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the pain.Picking and poking at your teeth may feel good but you have to try to resist the urge. Picking at your braces can cause wires to get loose and even cut the inside of your mouth.
Gargling with hot water and salt is an excellent way to relieve irritation in your mouth. The hot salty water reduces the soreness caused by the rough material of the braces. Do a rinse a few times a day even when you’re not having pain. This is an excellent natural remedy for keeping the pain under control.Once you get your braces, you’ll benefit from carrying an extra ice pack with you to work. Icing your jaw and mouth area is an excellent way to get some instant relief from the pain.
Finally, before you go in for your tightening, take an anti-inflammatory pill. This helps to keep swelling low and prevent the pain from starting in the first place. It’s also helpful to bring an ice pack to your tightening appointment so you can deal with any pain right away.
2. Make An Effort To Buy And Prepare Foods You Can Eat
There’s no doubt you’ll have to change your eating habits once you get braces, but it’s not as complicated as most people make it seem. As long as you know what to eat, you can create a diet for yourself that’s enjoyable.
Everything soft will be your best friend with braces. Yogurt, jello, milkshakes, and applesauce make great snakes. For your main meals, aim for soft cooked chicken (not crunchy), tuna, soft tortillas, rice, and pasta. For your vegetables always go with steamed since steamed vegetables are soft. Don’t forget to drink the liquid you boiled your veggies in (or make rice/pasta with it), so you get all the nutrients.
Avoid eating anything that’s hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy. These foods are much more likely to get caught in your braces and damage them. If you damage your braces, the treatment will take longer. No matter what you eat, always remember to brush your teeth afterward.
3. It’s Annoying, But Always Keep Your Extra Tools With You
Carrying around all your gear to keep your braces in tact is tedious but well worth the effort. Staying disciplined with applying your wax, wearing your elastics and brushing after each meal helps the braces treatment go faster. It’s easy to get off track, but skipping the maintenance just makes the process longer and harder for yourself. Keep a small bag packed with all your essentials so you can make sure your braces stay in good condition.
4. Don’t Clean Your Aligners With Toothpaste!
If you decide to go with Invisalign, don’t make the mistake of using a toothbrush to clean your aligners. Unfortunately, toothpaste contains different polishes that do more harm than good when it comes to shining up your aligners.
Instead of toothpaste, rub your aligners with a mild detergent at least once a day. It’s also a good idea to use denture-cleaning tablets once a week. Toothpaste may seem convenient, but you’ll end up turning your aligners yellow!
Maintaining your braces requires you to sacrifice some of your time and energy, but it’s well worth it in the end. It’s important also to know basics about your braces like the brand in case you have to get repairs. Chat with your orthodontist or use the suggestions in this blog post to create a smooth transition to life with braces!
