Three Things to Expect in the First Few Days of Wearing Braces
We all have questions when it comes to having braces fitted.
- What will my braces look like?
- Will I be self-conscious?
- Will my teeth hurt?
Everyone’s experience of braces is different but millions of people have worn braces and they’ve got a gorgeous smile and healthy mouth to prove it.
Let Healthy Smile Pharmacy Take You Through Preparing for Fixed Braces
What will my braces look like?
Everyone’s needs vary when it comes to helping their teeth line up more aesthetically. This means the look and feel of the braces is slightly different for everyone. At different times, your brace might look different, too.
Brackets are stuck to individual teeth. Metal brackets appear grey but they can also be white ceramic. Between the brackets, there might be coils on the archwire. Sometimes there are bands or tiny ‘buttons’ on your back teeth where no one can see them. The archwire is U shaped and does the hard work getting your teeth into position. Don’t be fooled that it looks like a tiny piece of metal! It’s small and thin, but very mighty!
Your orthodontist might let you have fun choosing different colours of O-rings to hold the archwire to the brackets.
Braces are amazing bits of small engineering that work hard to shape up that smile! With all that intricacy going on, a Fixed Brace Daily Care Kit is essential.
Will I be self-conscious wearing braces?
Many people are less self-conscious about their braces than they were about their old smile. But, having braces to show when smiling does make some people feel more self-conscious than usual. If this is you, for a time, you might want to smile with your mouth closed. That’s ok. Surprisingly, a lot of the time, when we talk, we don’t show much of our teeth.
These days,everyone sees people wearing braces. We think it’s true to say no-one really notices. And, if they do, they think nothing of it. Keep your confidence up by keeping your brace in tip top shape with our Fixed Brace Daily Care Kit.
Many people are excited to see your end results in the same way that you are. You’ll find that braces make very little difference to how you interact with friends, family or strangers. After your braces are fixed, any lost confidence in smiling and talking returns quickly. You’ll soon forget you wear braces at all!
Plenty people love their braces - they’re there to show you’re looking after your long term oral health. Now, that is something to take pride in!
Will my teeth hurt?
If you’re anticipating pain before and after having your brace fitted
If you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen, then you might decide to take a dose of an analgesic before your braces fitting appointment and then continue with the recommended dosages for another 24 hours. Speak to your orthodontist about this beforehand.
Let your brain adjust
Most people experience brace pain in the first 24 hours. Things often settle down quickly but those first sensations of pressure and tension can hang about for up to four weeks. Your teeth are under new forces and your brain’s learning to ignore new sensations. Before long, your brain adjusts and turns the volume down on the regular sensation of the brace.
Some pain solutions
Gums can be soothed with Gengigel which includes hyaluronic acid to help support your mouth’s natural healing response.
At times, brushing with a regular toothbrush can cause discomfort so, to avoid being tempted to miss a brushing session, which should be three times a day when wearing braces, try using a narrow headed monotip brush for more precision and less chance of knocking into other teeth that might be sore. You can also use it to gently massage the gums.
Some solutions might not come to mind immediately - for example, a severely dry mouth with braces can be helped with XyliMelts. They’re moisturisers for your mouth!
Thinking of beautiful, straight teeth at the end of the treatment motivates many and helps offset discomfort. It’ll all be worth it! Whatever you experience, it can be managed. No orthodontist wants you in intolerable pain, so make sure you speak to them if you feel the need. Until you can see them, if the pain is severe, research shows that painkillers do help pain in teeth braces. There are also plenty of other tools and remedies for braces pain relief.
