Braces Wear: 5 Tips To Adjust Quickly In Your First Week
For a healthier smile, you’ve decided to go for braces treatment to correct a misaligned set of teeth or resolve persistent dental issues such as teeth spacing. Undoubtedly, kick-starting your braces journey is very exciting. More than being treated to an array of choices like the traditional metal braces or the modern Damon braces, you’ll be gifted with a new smile, as well as the confidence that comes with it.
While wearing braces over years can pose some inconvenience, many have said that the hardest part of the treatment is probably the first week – where you’ll need to adjust to this set of wires for the first time! It will take some time for your body to get used to the new appliance in your mouth, but you’ll soon be able to wear your braces with more ease. With that, to allow yourself to adjust to braces treatment well, here are some tips to help you breeze through your first week.
1. Prepare yourself for some discomfort
A common question asked is, ‘do braces hurt?’ The simple answer to this frequently asked question is no. But, while braces do not cause pain, wearing one can result in discomfort, especially in your first week of braces treatment.
As such, if you experience any mild sensitivity or soreness, don’t worry; these side effects are temporary and usually go away after a few days or a week. If this discomfort interferes with your daily activities, considering taking over-the-counter pain relievers (those usually taken for headaches) to soothe and ease the discomfort to a more manageable level.
2. Be mindful about what you eat and drink
In this first week, your teeth and gums are more sensitive than usual. What’s more, you’ll need some time to learn to chew with the new appliance in your mouth. As you allow your teeth to start shifting and acclimatise to your braces, it’s best to avoid foods that are difficult to chew.
Instead, go for a soft diet with soup, pudding, mashed potatoes, shakes and yoghurt. Be sure also to avoid sticky or chewy food such as nuts, popcorn and pizza crust, as these tougher foods may cause unwanted damage to your braces and teeth. Unfortunately, after the placement of your braces, your favourite snacks might have to wait at least a week.
3. Rinse with salt water to ease irritation
Aside from sensitivity, you may also experience some irritation in your mouth or just below the recently placed brackets. While this is common and will likely subside in a matter of days, should you experience a lot of sores, rinsing with salt water can help manage this symptom.
For the salt water solution, mix one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle this solution for about thirty seconds. This rinse can be done up to six times a day if necessary. Besides relieving the pain you feel, rinsing with saltwater also speeds up the healing of sores in your mouth.
4. Use relief wax to fight mouth sores
While the brackets of your new braces are designed to be as gentle on your mouth as possible, they can still rub onto the soft tissues and cause mouth sores. Especially in the first week, when your mouth is inflamed, consider applying orthodontic wax over the braces to reduce these sores.But there is good news: once your mouth toughens up and adjusts to the constant contact with the brackets, mouth sores will no longer be an issue. Until then, to keep the discomfort to a minimum, you can apply a small amount of wax on the areas of your braces that are bothering you.
5. Practice brushing and flossing with braces
It may feel quite strange and even challenging to brush and floss around the brackets and wires of your braces during the adjustment period. But, practising good oral hygiene is vital and perhaps even more crucial than ever now that you have braces!
With the special toothbrush given by your dentist, clean your teeth thoroughly after every meal – removing any food substances that get stuck in your brackets. Sustaining good oral habits that include brushing twice a day and flossing regularly is key to a successful braces treatment.
Conclusion
Surviving the first week is probably one of the biggest challenges you’ll face after getting your braces. But, knowing what to expect and being prepared (both mentally and physically) can get you through this adjustment period with ease and make the journey to a better smile more enjoyable.
If you’re interested in receiving braces treatment from a certified professional, book an appointment today with Luminous Dental. With a wide selection of reliable orthodontic treatments, choose between our metal, ceramic, Damon braces, or Invisalign aligners offerings – our team is here to help you achieve the beautiful smile you’ve been hoping for.