Having braces can be quite the journey! When you first get your braces, you are overwhelmed with all the dos and don’ts. Once you’re got your routine down and learnt all the tips along your way. Trust me, it gets so much easier! As a dental studio that deals with hundreds of patients with braces, we are here to tell you the real deal, everything that you wish you’d known about braces.
The new normal routine:
Remember those mornings when you just rolled out of bed and brushed your teeth in 2 minutes flat? Yeah, those days are gone! If you want to get rid of your braces at the earliest then here are some of my favourite morning must haves. First things first, switch out your tooth brush with something with soft bristles, in fact even get interdental brushes that will get into the small nooks and corners between your teeth to remove that spinach stuck from last night. The best investment ever is the water flosser that cleans the hard to reach areas in our mouths. After an early morning oral care routine, the next battle to take on is breakfast!
If you are someone who likes eating crunchy and chewy things for breakfast such as bagel, granola or hard-boiled eggs it’s time to say goodbye if you don’t want to end up with a toothache late on. You can swap your breakfast with meals that are soft and filling, easy on the braces and have a softer texture. For instance, my new go-to’s were smoothie bowls, scrambled eggs and english muffins.
The favourite bit after a long day is the winding down but that your teeth will thank you for. No matter how lazy or tired you’re, never skip thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth and change your elastics. These are definite non-negotiables, additionally you can do a quick salt water rinse when your gums are feeling sore. Oh also, the most important bit is documenting the journey and taking pictures every week to track my progress and see how far you have come.
Social life situation
Let’s address the elephant in the room – dating with braces! Initially you might feel super self-conscious at first, but here’s what you need to remind yourself. Confidence is everything, wear a bright smile and maybe even ask your dentist for fun colour bands. Dark coloured foods are not braces friendly, try eating easy and light food that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth or stain your bands. Keep mints handy always and finally own it – your future smile is worth it!
If you’re an outdoorsy, active and sporty person then initially you might feel a little terrified about getting hit in the face or even worse have swelling in your mouth. Here’s a simple game plan for you to have a mouth guard when you’re playing games like volleyball, football or cricket. If the water is calling you, and you love the beach, swimming, surfing just make sure to rinse after and schedule a follow-up checkup with your dentist. The ultimate life-saviour you need at all times regardless of playing a sport or not is your lip balm, it keeps your lips feel soft and fresh and even prevents cuts at times. Don’t worry too much you have got this!
Real talk: The Hard Days
Let’s get honest for a minute – braces aren’t always a walk in the park. Some days, especially right after adjustments, can feel like your entire mouth is staging a protest! Remember your first adjustment appointment: when you walked in feeling like a pro (thinking you had already survived the initial braces placement, right?), but boy, are you in for a surprise.
You know that feeling when you wake up and your teeth are super sensitive? That’s an adjustment day in a nutshell. The first time, you barely want to move your mouth! But over time, you will develop some serious coping strategies that will be absolute lifesavers.
When your teeth are feeling particularly sensitive, so for some comfort food like mashed potatoes, smoothie bowls, ice cream therapy or even your mom’s magical bowl of soup. If the pain gets excruciating then try the ice pack trick, drink gallons of water, massage your gums gently all of these small things can be surprisingly super effective!
Remember, the tough days are temporary, and they actually get easier to handle as time goes on. Each adjustment hurts a little less than the last, and knowing how to handle the discomfort makes a huge difference. Plus, seeing the progress in your smile makes it all worth it – even on the hardest days! If you need more help with anything braces, visit a dental studio near you.