Getting braces can be exciting, but it can also be a little intimidating. What can you expect during your first week with braces?
Do you know what to eat on your first week with braces? Do braces give you a lisp? How long do braces hurt?
At Smith & Davis Orthodontics, we know you will have many questions about your new braces. We are happy to answer any questions you have, but we thought we’d give a few answers to some of the most common questions we have about the first week of braces.
How to Stop Braces Pain
One of the most common questions about braces is, “Do braces hurt?” During the first week of braces, you will probably have some discomfort as your teeth begin to move. This is normal and will likely only last a few days at most.
You can use an over-the-counter pain reliever to alleviate any pain from braces you have. You can also rinse your mouth with warm salt water 3-4 times a day, which will reduce pain and swelling of your gums.
You may experience pain from the movement but also from the braces themselves. They may rub against your cheeks, lips, or tongue. These areas will eventually “toughen up,” but until they do, we recommend using braces wax, sometimes called orthodontic wax.
This special dental wax is nontoxic and molds easily over your braces brackets to keep them from rubbing against the inside of your mouth. You simply pull off a pea-size piece of wax, roll it in your fingers to soften it, then place it over the trouble spot. Remove the wax for eating and replace it after brushing your teeth.
What to Eat With Braces the First Week
Your mouth will be pretty tender, so you may wonder what foods to eat with braces the first week. We suggest you eat soft foods for the first couple of days.
- Milkshakes or protein shakes
- Macaroni and cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked oatmeal
- Ice cream
- Pancakes
- Applesauce
- Pasta
- Bananas
- Eggs
These are some foods to eat on the first week of braces. You should be able to return to normal foods after a few days.
What can you eat with braces? What foods should you avoid with braces? We have suggestions for the best foods and what food and drinks not to have with braces.
Can I Get Braces Colors?
We use clear braces for our patients. Our clear ceramic braces are harder to see than traditional metal braces because the braces brackets look more like your natural tooth color. However, you might want to show off your braces. We can do that!
If you want to add style to your smile, we’ll bring out the braces color wheel! You can choose your favorite color (or colors!) of elastics for your braces.
What if you decide you don’t like the look of clear braces with colored bands? No problem! We can change those colors for white or clear elastics on your next visit.
We can also change to a different color or colors. You can show off your smile in your school colors, your favorite colors, or all dolled up for the holidays!
How to Take Care of Braces
Oral hygiene is important all the time, but it’s especially important during braces treatment. You need to know the best braces care, such as how to brush and floss properly with braces. Without proper brushing and flossing, you could end up with white spots on your teeth.
Start brushing and flossing properly the first week, and you should have beautiful teeth by the time we remove your braces. Here are a few things you can do to make your braces treatment successful.
- Brush with a fluoride, non-whitening toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste strengthens your enamel and keeps your teeth healthy and strong during treatment. Don’t use a whitening toothpaste because it will not be able to get beneath the bracket’s bonding agent. That means you’ll have white teeth with a darker center by the end.
- Floss daily using a floss threader. The easiest way to get floss around wires and brackets is to use a floss threader. It looks like a giant sewing needle and is made of a thin plastic that slides under wires and between teeth, pulling the floss with it. You can also use a water flosser to supplement the dental floss, but use dental floss at least once a day. It has better scrubbing power!
- Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Brush for at least two minutes at a time, making sure you scrub every surface of the tooth and around the brackets. We recommend an electric toothbrush because it has rotating bristles that get around brackets more easily.
- Rinse your mouth after meals. Rinsing your mouth will dislodge food particles from around your braces brackets and wires and help keep them cleaner until you can brush your teeth.
- Use mouthwash for added fluoride protection. Mouthwash is no substitute for brushing your teeth, but fluoride mouthwash can provide added enamel protection. Wait at least half an hour after brushing to use mouthwash, then wait 30 minutes after that before eating or drinking. That’s because fluoride takes about 30 minutes to provide maximum protection to your enamel.
Speaking With Braces
You may find that you don’t speak normally the first few days after getting your braces. This is normal and should disappear as your mouth becomes used to your braces.
Your lips and tongue have new obstacles to get around! It shouldn’t take long for them to adapt to your braces. It isn’t a problem for most people.
On rare occasions, a patient might need a session or two with a speech therapist. It’s more likely you will get back to speaking normally very soon.
Braces Treatment in Rogers, AR
Are you in Benton County, AR, looking for braces? If you’re ready for braces treatment in Rogers, AR, schedule a consult with Smith & Davis Orthodontics. We will be here from your first week of braces to your first week of retainers and beyond.
