First Days with Braces

Congratulations!!! You just got your braces on and you are wondering… Now what? You have officially begun the path towards your healthiest, most beautiful smile.

 

The first few days after braces are placed will be your biggest adjustment period.

Our team created this page with that in mind! Here are a few useful key points to help you in your new smile style and to facilitate you get through the next few days…

How long will I be sore?: You will usually have the most soreness on the second or third day after you get the braces on. On the fourth day, you will still have soreness, but you will feel like you have "turned the corner."

 

The soreness will decrease on each successive day until you feel back to normal after about one or two weeks. Soreness is a very subjective sensation. For some patients, the soreness is a minor irritation while for others it can be significant.

What should I do to relieve the soreness?: Rinsing with warm salt water is a great natural remedy to relieve soreness. Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) are also recommended to help relieve soreness during the first few days. You may alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen medicationon every 2-3 hours or as needed for soreness.

 

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: Please pay attention to maximum daily dosages for each medication according to your child’s weight and age. Also, BE CAREFUL not to give both Advil and Motrin which are both ibuprofen sold under two different brand names as this could result in an overdose.

 

What if some of my braces come loose?: Please be aware that the adhesive we use to put the braces on is designed to be temporary since braces are not meant to be permanently attached to the teeth.

An occasional side effect is that a bracket or two may come loose in the first 48 hours after the braces are placed. Don’t worry! This sometimes happens and is easily fixed!

 

Call us and we will schedule an appointment to re-attach the loose bracket(s).

What if my braces are causing sore spots?: Sore spots are a normal part of the braces process. Please use wax to cover the brace or wire that seems to be causing the sore spot.

 

We also recommend rinsing with warm salt water twice a day to relieve the soreness. If the sore spot does not go away after two or three days or if it seems to be getting worse, then call us so we can make you more comfortable.

A critical key to success with braces is proper brushing: Please use the brushing supplies and techniques we have reviewed with you to clean your teeth properly several times each day.

 

The most important time to brush is right before you got to bed. Make sure that you go to bed each night with spotlessly clean teeth and gums.

Avoid foods and beverages that are high in sugar (especially sodas and sports drinks) because they will cause permanent, irreversible decay and damage to the enamel on your teeth.

 

Avoid those tough and sticky foods that can cause your braces to come loose. Please refer to the "No-No Food List" that you were given as a guide.

As a general rule, avoid foods that are hard, sticky, chewy, gooey, and crunchy as these foods can cause loose and displaced brackets, bent wires, and loose bands.

Excessive damage to your brackets and appliances will cause you to have more frequent appointments and will increase your treatment time.