What Are Some Tips for Getting Used to the First Five Days With Braces?

cartoon mom and son with braces

Life With Braces: Make Your First Week of Braces Easier

We originally wrote this blog post back in 2013. We used it to discuss what you could expect from the first few days after getting your Alpharetta braces installed and how to get used to braces.

A lot of time has since passed, and much has changed as well! New medical practices set in, Marvel’s MCU gave us the amazing Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, Loki, and other great serialized shows, and Disney bought everything.

Vaccinations hit all-time highs as more and more people sought public health resources. Some local governments reviewed the use of face masks indoors and on the street. In general, we’ve had to adapt to many changes in society. Do you know what’s one thing that hasn’t changed? How braces feel weird to patients who first get them on.

Efficient orthodontic treatment can help adult and teenage patients fix tooth alignment issues such as crooked teeth, overbite, gaps between teeth, and more. Don’t let unfounded fears or not knowing how you’ll feel with braces keep you from your dream smile.

Starting your specialized dental care with an alignment specialist such as Dr. Nima may seem daunting at first; however, there’s no need to worry.

Even if you are concerned about how different you’ll feel for the first few days and weeks, you’ll still find there’s much you can do to get used to your treatment and enjoy the entire journey toward a well-aligned smile!

What to Expect From Your Orthodontic Treatment?

You might be worried about the idea of never getting used to wearing traditional metal braces Alpharetta. You might not even know what to expect when you first get your braces installed. We know this process can feel confusing at first, but eventually, you will figure out how to deal with your new set of traditional braces.

Granted, you have to keep in mind that you can choose between several alternatives for your orthodontic care if you want to avoid the stainless steel in your mouth, including ceramic braces and clear aligners Alpharetta.

We wanted to offer some tips to patients starting their journey toward a well-aligned smile with traditional braces. Still, some of the suggestions we mention here will apply, regardless of the orthodontic appliance you choose. You should check out what Dr. Nima and the team have to say about surviving your first week with Invisalign.

We feel like it is a lot easier to manage those first five days of braces if you know what’s going on! It may be a good time to revisit good oral-care practices and turn them into permanent habits in your daily routine.

What Does It Feel Like Having Braces?

It might take a little longer than the initial five days we are mentioning. Generally speaking, most patients are entirely used to wearing braces by the end of the first month or a bit sooner.

There are some things you will notice at the beginning of your treatment.

  • You might notice excess saliva and feel like you have to swallow a lot. This is because our mouths treat new dental braces like they’re food; however, it shouldn’t last too long – maybe 20 minutes to a few hours after the braces are placed. We promise you won’t feel so weird afterward.
  • Your bite will feel different as your teeth shift positions. If you have lower braces, you may also have “bite bumps” or “bite turbos,” tiny braces or bonding buttons on the inside, or the biting surfaces of some teeth. These attachments help prevent you from biting hard against your braces, and it may take 3-5 days to feel “normal.” Consult with your Alpharetta orthodontist if there is a need for these little devices.

All in all, you will very likely adapt to these orthodontic appliances in about a month. The most difficult parts of adjusting to an appliance with metal brackets include changing the way you speak. You can also expect some complications while drinking and eating, but you will adapt in a matter of weeks.

Our bodies are incredibly resilient, and maintaining your enthusiasm for completing this treatment will help a lot.

How to Reduce Pain From Braces?

How to Reduce Pain From Braces?

That’s right. We are starting with some of your most pressing concerns. Some discomfort after the initial visit to the orthodontist is common.

Many patients worry about any potential painful sensations as they begin their treatment, but you shouldn’t expect an unrelenting painful sensation. Instead, keep in mind that you will feel some pressure and discomfort again every time you come for an adjustment, but nothing you cannot easily manage or that makes you too uncomfortable.

You may not be fully aware of this, but orthodontic treatment Alpharetta works because your appliance gradually moves your teeth into a new position; this movement is only possible because the force dissolves the jawbone tissue. In time, your bones accept the new position, and the tissues rebuild and reinforce around that new position.

We know how it sounds, but it’s not something you should worry about. Specialists like Dr. Nima know how to do this without any risks to your dental health. However, the movement will cause some discomfort and perhaps even pain. So, do braces hurt?

Tips for Dealing With Discomfort

Usually, patients shouldn’t feel any pain during their initial consultation and at any other adjustment appointment afterward. However, every patient’s condition is different, and we like to prepare for everything as well as we can.

After your initial orthodontics appointment, you should warn the orthodontist if you feel any pain when first getting the brackets bonded onto your teeth. The good news here is that you should be able to go about your day without any concerns except those concerning your dietary limitations; we’ll discuss those later.

Keep your meals for the following couple of days to anything that’s soft and not overly cold or hot. There are plenty of options, and this won’t hurt your mouth with any additional resistance or cause additional sensitivity to extreme temperatures.

Monitor any sensations of discomfort as you should adapt to any discomfort after just 2 or 3 days. Keep some over-the-counter medication handy to deal with any sore teeth or sensations of soreness. Think of anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Motrin.

Keep these recommendations in mind for any following adjustment appointments with your orthodontist, as you’ll have to go back to their office about every 6 to 10 weeks to ensure your treatment efficiency.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) also recommends you do the following to help with any discomfort:

  • Warm salt water rinses. Adding just a teaspoon of salt to your regular cup of water will help deal with any swelling or gum irritation.
  • Orthodontic wax. Go to your local pharmacy and ask for orthodontic relief wax; apply a little onto your brackets or archwire to avoid any irritation as these pieces may rub against the inside of your mouth and hurt.

What to Eat With Braces

What to Eat With Braces in Alpharetta

Ah. THAT question. We will always advise against eating some foods that can endanger the integrity of your braces. Even if metal braces are resistant thanks to the stainless steel used to manufacture them, some foods can loosen brackets, dislodge wires, and ultimately interrupt your treatment.

Keep reviewing the “dos and don’ts” guide that we give you.

In these first five days, you might be tempted to continue eating hard and sticky foods. But you must avoid them because they could break your braces, loosen a bracket, dislodge a wire, and ultimately increase your treatment time.

The time you spend coming back to the orthodontist office having a part replaced is also time from your treatment that gets wasted. Avoid that, and pay close attention to your diet while on braces to avoid an increased treatment time!

There are foods we recommend avoiding throughout all your treatment especially while you’re starting it. Keep away from eating hard taco shells, corn on the cob, popcorn, and sticky foods.

But enough of all that negativity. Just as there are foods and beverages you should avoid, you can also integrate some delicious items into your diet.

Considering your mouth might feel sore as your braces begin to work, here are some ideas of the soft foods you can enjoy during your first few weeks with braces:

  • Yogurt,
  • Soft cheeses,
  • Oatmeal,
  • Soups,
  • Smoothies,
  • Scrambled eggs,
  • Smashed Potatoes,
  • Soft fruits.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese

This all-time favorite for adults and children can never go wrong. You can go with a traditional Italian soffrito of onions, celery, and carrots, your favorite tomato base, and ground beef. Bonus points for those who mix a bit of pork or crumbled Italian sausage as well. Use some red wine and tomato paste to give the sauce a bit more body. Season to taste, and don’t forget to salt your pasta water.

Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese offers a creamy texture you can eat with braces.

An American classic that cannot go unnoticed. Sure, you can try the instant stuff from your favorite brand, but we wanted to share with you a different method to test and improve your culinary skills. Have you ever prepared a white sauce called Bechamel? Just get some whole milk, flour, and unsalted butter from your fridge and counter to get this sauce started. Stir in your grated white cheddar and watch all your problems melt away with this indulgent classic. Prepare your macaroni to your preferred doneness and stir it into the pot where you cooked that beautiful sauce.

Hummus

Hummus

A gift from the Middle East. Find your preferred chickpeas and set them aside. You can use canned chickpeas as well, and pealing them will ensure the softest texture ever. The best part about this is that you don’t need too many ingredients, but sourcing some good tahini will make your life a bit easier. Granted, you can also use a food processor to grind sesame seeds with a bit of neutral oil to get some homemade tahini. Then it’s only a matter of seasoning, adding olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh lime juice, and some cumin.

Risotto with Mushrooms and Chicken

Mushroom Risotto

Get some Arborio rice and start preparing some chicken stock beforehand. Pro tip: You can use some store-bought low-sodium chicken stock along with a packet of gelatin to achieve the same result in minutes. You could also parboil the rice to speed up the process. In any case, you’ll want to keep the liquid-to-rice ratio of 3 to 1. Slowly ladle the liquid and give the rice enough time to absorb all the liquid in the pan or pot before ladling more liquid. Mount with some butter and a good serving of your favorite cheese. Sautee wild mushrooms with garlic and flat-leaf parsley. If you feel like going the extra mile, deglaze the pan with white wine and mount it with some butter. We said delicious and braces-safe food, not fitness dishes.

Don’t Forget About This if You Want a Healthy Smile!

Okay, let’s try to work on that list we promised. Remember that, ultimately, you are wearing braces because you are on your way to a well-aligned and healthy smile. Orthodontic treatment is more than just looking nice; it’s about having a healthy smile.

Here are some things to expect and some tips to help ease the adjustment period:

  • Braces will feel strange on your lips and tongue. It’s normal to be a little fidgety, moving your lips over the braces or touching the braces with your tongue. But within a day or two, this type of “checking it out” activity will go away.
  • The “glue” that holds the braces on your teeth is similar to the material we use to fill teeth. It is strong, but it takes up to 48 hours to set completely. Softer foods will be easier to eat while also allowing the braces to set. Please stay away from hard foods.

The Importance of Your Oral Hygiene

Brushing with braces

Tooth decay is a serious matter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that by 2016, a staggering 45.8% of all US children aged 2-19 had some type of untreated tooth decay. Don’t let that add to the initial discomfort as your kid starts wearing their appliance.

Take a look at all of the items we have given you to help keep your teeth clean and comfortable. You can also get many of these items from the pharmacy. Clean teeth and gums are more critical when braces are on your teeth. You also don’t want to stain your teeth because you will see discoloring once your treatment concludes.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day if you don’t already. For bonus points, brush after lunch too! We strongly recommend checking up on your teeth with a lighted magnifying mirror, like a makeup or shaving mirror.

Young Patients and a Beautiful Smile

Parents – check on your child’s brushing at least once a day for the first few days! They might be missing some key areas where food and debris get trapped, and you’ll want them to be able to catch these spots themselves.

As always, young patients between 7-17 should be rinsing their teeth with fluoride mouthwash before going to bed. And this should continue even after the first five days!

Alleviating Any Pain Caused by Braces

Most patients do not need wax – and we want the lips and cheeks to toughen up during the initial five days of braces. If a sore develops and you want to use wax, do so by drying the irritated area and pushing a little piece of wax onto the spot where it cuts your cheek.

Use over-the-counter medication to help ease any discomfort you have over the first few days. Monitor the situation closely and, if the pain doesn’t go away, get in touch with your orthodontist to verify that everything is going well or perform any necessary adjustments.

The new high-technology wires are activated by body heat. So if your new braces feel tight, try rinsing with ice water to reduce the pressure temporarily. But if you do this, do NOT chew the ice! You do not want to have to come in right after you have your braces to get fixed.

An Orthodontist to Help With Bite Correction

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You could give us a phone call or set up your next appointment online. We will be happy to have you in our office!

You are on your way to a healthy good looking smile with straight teeth, and any temporary inconveniences will be well worth it in the end. Try to remain motivated throughout the treatment, and soon you won’t even notice you have braces on until it’s time to remove them