What To Expect When You Have Braces Put On
If you are going to be getting braces, then you'll want to know exactly what to expect. You may be nervous about the procedure and recovery. Educating yourself on the process will help take some of that nervousness away. The information provided below will inform you of what you can expect when you get braces on.
The procedure
It will take roughly an hour or two for you to have your braces put on. The procedure will begin with the orthodontist cleaning your teeth. Once the cleaning is complete, bonding glue will be put on your teeth. This is used to hold the brackets in place. The final step will be for the archwire to be put in the brackets and for the brackets to then be secured using small bands.
The recovery
If you're like most people, you're probably overly concerned about the recovery time. You'll be glad to know that the procedure is relatively pain free. However, there will be some discomfort afterward. You may experience tenderness in your mouth that will last about a week after you have the braces put on. In order to get relief from the pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
It will take you awhile to get used to having the braces on. At first, you will need to get used to eating with them on. It generally takes the majority of people about a month before they are really used to having the braces on and eating with them.
For the first few days, you should stick to eating very soft foods such as yogurt, eggs, applesauce, mashed potatoes, soup, shakes and macaroni and cheese. You may want to stay away from foods that are hot or cold, depending on whether or not they seem to irritate your mouth more.
You can expect to get some sores in your mouth. The sores are caused by the braces rubbing constantly against the sensitive areas in your mouth. After your mouth gets used to the braces being there, you can expect the sores to stop. Until then, you want to avoid touching the sores with your tongue or fingers. You also want to stay away from foods or drinks that have a high acidic level.
To help cut down on the development of mouth sores, you can use orthodontic wax for about the first month after having the braces put on. To use the wax, you will squish a little with the tips of your fingers and smash it onto the braces where you feel some irritation occurring.
When you get braces on it's important for you to follow the instructions given by your orthodontist. You also want to be sure you make it to all your appointments so you can get out of the braces as soon as possible and have the smile you've been wanting. Contact a center like Wright Center For Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.