Life with Braces | Plaza Orthodontics

Managing Discomfort

If you've just started wearing braces, congratulations! You are on your way to having a beautiful, straight smile that you'll be proud to show. In the meantime, adjusting to your orthodontic appliances may take a little time - especially during the first week. But don’t worry, it gets easier quickly. Here are some helpful tips for managing discomfort during your braces treatment.

Managing Discomfort

When your braces are first placed, you may experience two types of discomfort: general soreness (which may also occur after routine adjustments) and irritation from the wires and brackets. The soreness usually subsides within a few days. In the meantime, applying a warm compress to your jaw can help relieve discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may also help. Eating soft foods like oatmeal, pasta, and soup during the first few days is recommended.

If wires or brackets irritate the inside of your lips or cheeks, use the orthodontic wax provided. Apply a small amount over any rough areas to reduce friction. You can also rinse your mouth with warm saltwater (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of water) to soothe irritation. If a wire continues to cause discomfort, contact our office — we can easily adjust it for you.

Eating With Braces

As you get used to eating with braces, you’ll quickly learn which foods to avoid. Hard, sticky, and crunchy foods — such as bagels, raw carrots, and corn on the cob — can damage your braces.

However, you don’t have to give up healthy foods. Simply cut fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces, cook them until soft, or blend them into smoothies. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, as they can get trapped around brackets and wires, increasing the risk of tooth decay during braces treatment.

Oral Hygiene

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential while wearing braces. Brush and floss carefully to remove food particles and plaque around brackets and wires. Regular dental checkups will also help keep your smile healthy throughout your treatment.

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Protecting Your Smile

In addition to proper care and diet, protecting your braces is important — especially if you play sports. Wearing a mouthguard can prevent damage to your braces and protect the soft tissues of your mouth. Ask us about getting a custom mouthguard for added comfort and protection.

If you ever have concerns or discomfort, don’t hesitate to contact us. Remember, braces are temporary — but the results last a lifetime. Once your treatment is complete, you’ll enjoy a confident, healthy smile that makes it all worthwhile.

Post-Orthodontic Care

One day in the not-too-distant future, your braces will come off. You'll be free of bands and brackets, able to eat what you want and run your tongue over smooth, clean teeth. But, even on this happy occasion, please remember that you're not quite done with orthodontic treatment yet: The next phase, called retention, is just beginning. Retention is a critical follow-through stage that typically involves wearing an orthodontic appliance called a retainer. Several different kinds of retainers are available, all of which are custom-made just for you. We will recommend the type (or types) that will work best in your situation, and we'll tell you exactly when and how long you need to wear them.

But if your teeth are straight now, why do you need a retainer at all? Simply put, it's because if you don't wear one, your teeth will start moving right back to where they were!
Teeth aren't set rigidly in the jawbone — instead, they're held in place by a network of fibers called the periodontal ligaments. After they have been moved, it takes several months for the periodontal ligament to adjust to the new position. So if you want to keep that new smile — and not waste all the time, effort, and money it took to get it — it's essential to wear your retainer as directed. Being fitted for a retainer usually happens on the same day your braces are removed. After your teeth are thoroughly cleaned, we may take another set of X-rays and/or bite impressions, to check how well your braces worked and to see how much your wisdom teeth have developed. Then, we'll discuss your retainer and start getting it ready.

Three Types of Retainers

So how do you keep your teeth clean while wearing braces? Brush at least twice each day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride, which will strengthen the teeth. Fluoride mouthrinses are also available for added protection against cavities. Braces can be hard on a toothbrush, so you may have to replace them more frequently as you go through your orthodontic treatment.

Cleaning between your teeth at least once a day (preferably before you go to bed) is also very important. There are several ways to do this. When using dental floss, a special tool called a floss threader can help you pass the floss beneath the archwire that runs through the brackets on your braces. You can also try an interdental brush, which is a tiny disposable brush that can reach into small spaces your regular brush can't. Some people like using a water flosser, which shoots a pressurized stream of water at the teeth to dislodge food particles. We'd be happy to give you more detailed instruction on using any of these oral hygiene aids.

A Period of Adjustment

After a short time, most people adjust quite well to wearing a retainer. Some may find that they produce more saliva than usual for a day or so after first wearing any type of retainer — a normal reaction to a foreign object in the mouth. You may also find it a little harder to talk normally at first, but that problem will soon disappear. Of course, removable retainers should always be taken out when you eat or brush your teeth — a big change from braces!

At first, you will probably be told to wear your removable retainer all day, every day. This period of 24/7 retainer use generally lasts from several months to a year. Later, we may say that it's OK to wear it only at night. Finally, you'll probably need to put it on just a few nights a week.

Maintaining Your Retainer

To stay fresh and germ-free, all retainers need proper cleaning. A soft toothbrush and a few drops of dishwashing liquid or other mild liquid soap can be used to clean most removable retainers. Denture cleaners, in powder or tablet form, as well as special retainer cleaners, can also be used. Fixed retainers are cleaned by brushing and flossing; a floss threader or interproximal brush can also be a helpful cleaning tool when needed.

Finally, remember to always carry — and use — a retainer case. You'd be surprised how many retainers end up folded in a napkin and accidentally discarded! Also, don't expose your retainer to excess heat by washing it in very hot water or leaving it on a heater: That can cause the retainer to warp and make it unusable. With proper care and conscientious use, a retainer can help you transition from braces to a permanent, healthy smile.

Caring for Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment

Keeping your mouth and gums clean and healthy while.

The Magic of Orthodontics

Proper alignment of the teeth is basic to "Smile Design."

The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers

Decades ago, orthodontists used to think that once.

Why Orthodontic Retainers?

It is common to wear retainers following orthodontic.

Life with Braces & Post-Orthodontic Care

Managing Discomfort

Managing Discomfort

Eating With Braces

Oral Hygiene

Protecting Your Smile

Post-Orthodontic Care

Three Types of Retainers

A Period of Adjustment

Maintaining Your Retainer

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