Having straight, perfectly aligned teeth is always a goal worth aiming for. When your teeth are free of misalignment, gaps, and any issues that affect your bite, you will have better oral health. You will be more confident about your smile as well.
The best solution to have straighter teeth free of any gaps and bite problems is to wear dental braces. This orthodontic treatment corrects misaligned, crowded, and gapped teeth.
Getting dental braces in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, though, is not the easiest thing to do. To experience all the benefits of this treatment, you have to stay committed through all the difficulties.
Additionally, you will undergo challenges once you start wearing braces. You will experience changes that can be difficult to accept, navigate, and overcome.
To be fully prepared for this orthodontic treatment and get the most benefits, you have to know what to expect before, during, and after getting dental braces. Also, you have to follow the right tips to prepare for and deal with them.
Below are the best tips to follow before, during, and after getting braces.
Before
Research
There are various types of braces. The most common ones are:
Traditional – metal braces with metal brackets and wires that put pressure on your teeth to straighten them. This type of orthodontic appliance is now made of lighter materials and as such, less painful. The modern brackets are smaller and less visible, as well.
Ceramic – they have the same size and shape as metal braces; however, their brackets are tooth-colored or clear, thus blending with the teeth. Because of this, they are less obvious than metal aligners.
Damon – this type has a modern kind of metal wire. It uses a slide mechanism instead of elastic bands to join the archwires, thereby causing less friction, adjustment, and pain.
When you have enough information about your options and considered your lifestyle and budget, find out from your dentist or orthodontist if your choice will correct your dental issue.
Shop for the necessary supplies
Since there will be changes to your lifestyle and diet once you start wearing braces, you need to be prepared to deal with them.
Start by buying some new oral hygiene products and supplies. These include a water flosser or orthodontic floss and floss threader, dental wax, non-whitening toothpaste, and mouthwash. Consider changing your toothbrush with one that has a smaller head and with softer bristles as well.
Additionally, stock up on certain kinds of foods. After getting your braces, your diet will be limited to soft foods. As such, buy plenty of canned soups, mashed potatoes, yogurts, puddings, jello, and ingredients for making smoothies.
Indulge in your favorite crunchy and chewy treats
Since your diet will be restricted throughout the treatment duration, live it up a bit before your appointment.
Eat all your favorite crunchy, sticky, and chewy foods. Munch on popcorn, hard-crust pizza, and chewy bread rolls and beef jerky. Indulge in your favorite sweet treats as well such as toffee, caramels, lollipops, and gummy candies.
If you love eating fresh crunchy fruits and veggies like apples, pears, and carrots, satisfy your healthy cravings one last time.
During
Go the dental clinic with a clean set of teeth
On the day your dental specialist will put on your braces, make sure you clean your teeth properly. This means brushing and flossing thoroughly.
You have to ensure your teeth are completely clean so that the dentist or orthodontist will spend lesser time removing plaque from your pearly whites. This will help speed up the whole process.
Prepare to stay in the dental clinic for one or two hours
The whole process of getting braces can take one to two hours. As such, make sure you don’t go to the clinic hungry and thirsty.
Once you are seated comfortably, your dental specialist will place a cheek retractor in your mouth so that he or she can see your teeth clearly. Your teeth will then be polished to ensure the brackets stick to them completely.
After your teeth are completely dry, your dentist or orthodontist will apply a conditioner on the surface and clean it off. After a minute or so, your dental specialist will apply adhesive primer to attach the brackets.
Your dentist or orthodontist will put cement on the back of the brackets. Once done, these will be placed on your teeth.
Once they are in place, the dental specialist will install the archwire into the brackets and use elastic bands to secure them in position.
Expect some discomfort
After getting your braces, you will feel some mild pain which can start even while you are still in the clinic.
During the next few days, your tongue and cheek will rub against the braces, which can cause some sensitivity and mouth sores. Additionally, you will experience some mild toothaches since your teeth will start to move.
Eating only soft foods after getting your braces will help you minimize these feelings of discomfort. Take the prescribed pain medication as well to reduce these aches.
If the pain or sensitivity seems to be unbearable and your medication is not providing any relief, call your dentist or orthodontist immediately.
After
Follow a braces-friendly diet
Throughout the treatment duration, you need to avoid hard, crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods. These kinds of foods can get caught in the brackets and cause tooth decay particularly if you don’t remove them immediately.
Additionally, these foods can strain the jaw, which, in turn, can weaken the orthodontic adhesive and cause the brackets to pop off.
To avoid inconveniences and dental problems, stick to soft, braces-friendly foods.
Practice good oral hygiene habits
Even if your braces might make brushing and flossing harder, you should continue taking care of your teeth.
A water flosser or orthodontic floss and floss threader will allow you to floss easily and efficiently. Follow the correct steps when brushing to ensure your teeth and braces are thoroughly clean to reduce the risk for plaque development and tooth decay.
Make sure you brush after every meal and floss once daily. Gargle with mouthwash for additional cleansing and protection.
Visit your dentist regularly
You need to see your dentist or orthodontist frequently for adjustments. If the elastic bands are already weak, your specialist will replace them. He or she will place new wires as well.
These visits and adjustments are crucial since they will allow your dentist or orthodontist to check if your teeth are moving to the right positions.
Lastly, these appointments will enable your dentist or orthodontist to spot any dental problem (such as the start of cavities) and provide the necessary treatment immediately.
A top cosmetic dentist from Fort Lauderdale agrees that having straight teeth will improve your smile dramatically. As long as you choose the right type and have an excellent dental specialist, regardless of your age, you can wear braces to have healthier and more beautiful teeth.