If braces are for me, how will it change my life? Will I be able to eat everything I was able to eat before? How do I keep them clean? Can I participate in sports?
Most things that are worth doing require some effort. If you want to get in shape you have to exercise. If you want good grades you have to study. Braces are no different, if you want straight teeth you have to make some changes in your life to obtain the best results.
General Soreness
Braces do take some time to get used to. When they are first placed, there will be many edges and angles that will take time to adjust to. We will show you how to minimize this discomfort. The teeth will become sore for a few days after the braces are placed and after each adjustment. Generally, the best medicine is Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If you can't take Ibuprofen, then Tylenol works well. This soreness should last only three to seven days. For advice on other braces-related situations, see our Emergency Info page.
Eating
Depending on what you are used to eating, braces can have a change on your life. Dark Cola drinks are especially bad for braces. Dark colas, diet or regular, have phosphoric acid in them. This acid can cause white scars on the teeth that are visible after the braces are removed. We ask that you limit your soft drinks to diet clear sodas, root beer, diet root beer; cream soda. Mountain Dew and Surge are also poor choices due to the high sugar content. Hard crunchy foods should also be avoided. Hard foods can break the braces off of the teeth. If a brace becomes loose during treatment, the treatment time may be much longer than anticipated. For more, visit Foods to Avoid.
Brushing
It does take more time to clean your teeth with braces. To have the best result it is very important to brush after every meal. Plaque and food left on the teeth not only looks bad hanging from your braces, it too can cause white scars on the teeth. Flossing is also very important. Yes, you can floss with braces on the teeth! We'll show you how. We will prescribe a high-fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth. We will also periodically apply a fluoride coating to help protect the teeth if necessary. If you would like more detail regarding brushing and flossing with braces, see our Oral Hygiene page.
Athletics
If you are a participant in athletic activities, wearing a mouth guard is important. Wearing a mouth guard is especially important with braces on the teeth. We will give you the appropriate type of mouth guard for your athletic activity. Do not buy the regular mouth guard at the sporting goods store: this type of mouth guard does not allow the teeth to move. Orthodontics should not affect any athletic activity.
Musical Instruments
Although it can take some time to get used to playing a musical instrument with braces, they can all be played with practice. It would be best not to have your braces put on close to an important recital.
Cooperation
Success and length of treatment depend greatly upon the cooperation between you, the doctors, and the staff. Wearing elastics and appliances as you have been directed, avoiding foods that can be damaging, and keeping appointments is important to finishing your treatment in the shortest time with the best results. Smile and be proud of your appliances! After all, it shows the world that you are making a positive change for your smile and your bite!