Getting braces from Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics is an exciting time in anyone’s life, regardless of your age. We see both teenagers and adults at our Spokane Valley dental office. Before you walk into a new life with braces, we want to help prepare you for what to expect. Although you might have a new smile, for the time being, some of your daily habits might start to change. Find out what you should know before getting braces so nothing is unexpected.
Dental Hygiene Habits Will Change
Once you get braces, brushing twice a day will no longer be the norm. Braces make it easy for food to get trapped in the brackets and between wires. We highly recommend that our patients brush their teeth after eating anything to help remove the debris and keep your breath fresh throughout the day. Extra brushing will also help keep cavities and gum disease away.
Flossing will also become more difficult. Patients will need to maneuver their floss between the wires to successfully reach their teeth. This can make the entire flossing experience more frustrating and time-consuming. Buying special floss with a pointy edge can make flossing easier.
Lastly, your next dental cleaning will look a little different. We will need to remove the wire from your braces first to clean your teeth properly.
You Have to Give Up Certain Foods
One of the downsides of having braces is giving up certain foods. Unfortunately, there is no away around this except for opting for a different orthodontic treatment like Invisalign because it’s removable for eating. Patients with braces should stay away from hard, chewy, or sticky food such as:
Nuts- Popcorn
- Hard taco shells
- Gum
- Ice
- Pretzels
- Kettle chips
- Hard or sticky vegetables
- Croutons
- Raw vegetables
- Hard bread
- Jerky
- Corn on the cob
- Apples
It’s possible to eat some of these foods such as apples, corn, or raw vegetables as long as they’re cut up into small pieces. If you eat the wrong foods, it’s possible to break a bracket.
It Can Sometimes Feel Painful
Getting braces means that your teeth are slowly moving in your jaw. That movement unfortunately does not happen without some discomfort. Most patients can expect some discomfort when we first place their braces. Since their cheeks and lips are not used to something scratchy resting against them, it might feel uncomfortable. We recommend applying dental wax to the brackets until the cheeks and lips build up some callous. In just a few weeks, you will hardly notice the braces resting against your cheeks or lips.
Aside from the scratching from the brackets, you might also feel discomfort after tightening appointments or when using rubber bands. Taking over the counter pain relievers can help.
Learn More About Braces in Spokane Valley
Want to learn more about a potential braces experience? Schedule a consultation with our cosmetic dentists in Spokane Valley to find out if braces are right for you and to have any of your questions answered. Give us a call at (509) 927-2273 today to get started.
