Living with braces does not have to be painful. It is easy to adapt with the braces and look forward to perfectly aligned teeth. Follow the precautions your dentist advices while wearing dental braces. You may encounter problems during your orthodontic treatment, but here are some helpful insights on how you can live with braces comfortably.
Remember, South Salem orthodontics supports you throughout the entire orthodontic treatment process. McDonald Orthodontics provides advanced oral care. They have a warm, friendly staff with a strong importance on fun! Therefore, book an appointment, welcome the process and eagerly wait to flaunt your gorgeous, healthy smile.
Tips to live with braces comfortably
- Manage discomfort: If your teeth are little out of alignment, they need correction. With braces installed, you may experience some pain or slight soreness. A few people feel discomfort during these procedures but you can reduce uneasiness by taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief. If you want to reduce inflammation use warm salt water.
- Eat soft foods: When you wear braces, chewing is difficult for a couple of days, so take only softer foods. Avoid hard or chewy food that can stick to your braces or cause pain. Soft foods like mashed potato, yogurts and soups are preferred during orthopaedic treatment. Gradually add more solid foods into your diet as your mouth starts to get used to the braces.
- Proper oral hygiene: Oral health and hygiene is important, especially when you are wearing braces. You will need a soft bristle toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and floss threader. Brush your teeth two to three times in a day. Floss once daily to eliminate food particles stuck between your teeth and wire. Remember to visit the dentist for your regular dental check-ups even when you are wearing braces.
- Watch your diet: To ensure a smooth braces wearing process, you need to opt for a balanced diet. Sodas, candy, processed fruit juices, chocolates, and other sweets are either acidic or too sugary. They possibly lead to tooth decay, which badly influences your braces. So, the best solution is to reduce their intake or totally avoid them until you get the expected results.
- Protect your braces: If you are involved in sports activities, there are chances of falling and getting injured. So, protecting your braces in such cases is vital. Habits like biting nails and chewing a pencil is unhealthy and can damage your braces, which can also extend your treatment period. Therefore, while playing wear a mouth guard to protect your braces and your teeth.
- Wear rubber bands and other appliances as directed: Sometimes, your orthodontist may have to use rubber bands or head gear to align jaws. Please wear these appliances to get the desired results in the shortest possible time.
Sometimes, you may not feel comfortable living with braces but remember that you will have a beautiful smile in a short time. In any case, even if your treatment seems to take longer than it actually does, do not get upset. Be positive as living with braces is not impossible but needs a few lifestyle changes.