Day-to-Day Living with Braces
Welcome back! In the last blog we informed you about your beginning stages of living with braces. Now that you learned what and how to eat, and most importantly how to maintain a healthy clean mouth with braces, it’s time to get to the next level. We’ll try to cover most of your questions and dilemmas, but remember, whenever you have a question about your braces just give us a call at 1(847)-253-2300, or visit our FAQ page you might find your answer there.
Below you will find some of the most common questions that patients have after they get the braces on.
My teeth really hurt! What can I do to ease the pain?
In the first weeks after you get your braces on, your mouth will be sore and you will feel some discomfort. Most people take one or two pain medicine to help ease the pain. Cold drinks or cold foods (such as frozen yogurt, milkshakes, ice cream, or just plain ice water) may also help.
Will my brackets pop off?
Sometimes a bracket will spontaneously pop off. There are a number of reasons this can happen. Remember that your brackets are glued on, so if the glue bond is broken, the bracket will come off. If this happens to you, call us immediately 1(847)-253-2300 to get it re-glued. It is normal for a bracket to pop off occasionally.
Why do I need to wear elastics?
Elastics help fine-tune the alignment of your teeth and your bite. There are many different ways that you can wear elastics for specific reasons. You should wear the elastics the number of hours that Dr. Kaplin recommends you to do, to help your treatment progress properly. (Wearing them “double time” or “double strength” to make up for time you spent without them is NOT advisable — that could harm your teeth). Most people take elastics out before a meal, brush, and then replace them after a meal.
How can I cope with canker sores when I have braces?
There are many ways to cope with canker sores. If the sore is near a bracket, you can put some dental wax on the bracket to create a barrier. If you don’t have any wax, just stop by our office and we’ll give you some.
Do ceramic (non-metal) braces stain?
The brackets themselves usually do not stain. It’s the elastic ligatures that hold the arch wire to the bracket that stains. These are changed at each adjustment, when you get fresh clean ones. So, if your ligatures or power chains stain, you’ll only have to live with it for a short time. Remember, you can pick any color you want your circles to be.
What foods stain the ligatures of your braces the worst?
Foods like curry, mustard, black coffee, and red wine create the worst stains.
What colors of ligatures or power chains resist stains the best?
Clear or white ligatures show yellow stains the worst. The best colors are: smoke, pearlescent, glow-in-the-dark, and any dark vibrant colors.
Is it OK to have braces if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant?
Yes, many pregnant women have had orthodontic treatment. Your teeth may be a bit looser than average because of the hormonal changes and the effect on your periodontal ligaments. But as long as you maintain good periodontal health, it shouldn’t be a problem to wear braces if you’re pregnant.
Can you wear braces if you snorkel or scuba dive?
Yes, you can. It’s probably best to have the braces on for a few months before snorkeling or scuba diving, so you can get used to the extra hardware in your mouth
A wire at the end of my braces is poking my cheek. What should I do?
This is always an annoying and tricky situation. If possible, apply a bunch of dental wax at the end of the wire to stop it from poking you. Whenever this happens call our office at 1(847)-253-2300 so we can clip the wire.
What about braces and sports?
Depending on the sport, it is probably a good idea to wear some sort of lip protector or mouth guard so the braces don’t cut up the insides of your mouth (and also to protect your teeth and braces). Light contact sports will be made safer with a simple lip protector. Many heavy contact sports require a larger mouth guard.
