10 Things To Keep In Mind Before Getting Braces

Making the decision to invest in braces in order to get beautiful teeth and a healthy smile might be challenging. This journey has several steps and they are different for every individual. The good thing is that changes with braces happen in a short period of time. Although there are several things to keep in mind before considering getting them.

We will discuss ten of the most significant factors you should consider before obtaining braces in this blog article. This information can help in your decision-making and give you the confidence to go with your orthodontic journey. It covers everything from restrictions and difficulties to the best method to preserve the results and keep frequent checkups. So let’s explore these important factors to make sure your road to a flawless smile is a smooth one.

Photo showing a young adult woman with braces.

No ages limit 

Orthodontic procedures are available to patients of any age. Since they are most frequently seen in children and teens, there is a misperception that braces are only linked with them. This is untrue. Adults have been found requesting this therapy increasingly often during the previous few years.

If you feel self-conscious about the look of braces, new treatments like clear aligners, ceramic brackets, and lingual braces are available. They are more comfortable and less visible than traditional braces. Because of these new developments, more adults are achieving their desired looks. 

Keeping up with your dental appointments

During the initial consultation, your doctor will check for cavities or any other dental issues and he will make sure your dental health is at its best. If not, these problems will need to be treated before putting the braces. Once the braces are on, you will need to visit your orthodontist regularly, as this will help maintain the results and keep the teeth healthy, avoiding any possible issues. 

Braces are not just for aesthetics 

Braces are not only used for straightening the teeth and they play a more important role than just enhancing the physical appearance. Besides straightening their teeth, people who suffer from bite problems may find this as a proper solution. If they are not addressed at the right time, bite problems like crossbite, deep bites, and overjets can lead to bigger issues like gum disease, tooth loss, or decay. 

Without further injury to your teeth or jaw, braces can correct these issues. It is essential to speak with an orthodontist to determine the best course of action for your particular dental requirements.

Photo illustrating pain or discomfort from wearing braces.

Be prepared for some temporary discomfort   

Because your mouth is an extremely sensitive area, some individuals feel a little pain when their braces are first put on or just after they are tightened. You are curious to know the average amount of discomfort, though. If your soreness persists for more than two or three days, you might want to contact and ask your orthodontist if you might come in so they could have a look. You could experience a little pressure. Some people may have tooth sensitivity, while others may experience irritation from the tough brackets pressing against their cheeks and lips. Most of the time, people feel as though they have worked out their teeth since their jaws are tight and uncomfortable. Others experience their jaw movement more as a harsh jabbing feeling. Everything is dependent upon the individual and how tight your braces are. 

The initial few days following the placement of braces may be the most difficult. It might take a week or two for things to seem normal. As your mouth becomes used to the change in its surroundings during the first few weeks, you can notice some rubbing from the braces on your cheeks. While it could take longer to become used to new braces, the tightening pain lasts longer. You may suffer a day or two of discomfort following each tightening treatment, but it will pass rapidly the longer you wear braces since your teeth are in their proper positions and there is less movement required.

Your diet will need to change 

A healthy smile is tremendously dependent on a good diet. It supports orthodontic therapy as well. You can ensure that your teeth are strong enough to support braces and prevent any setbacks by eating properly during your treatment. There won’t be any huge changes in your diet, but you should consider staying away from some foods. Even though they are very strong and durable, braces can be damaged. While wearing braces, try your best to avoid some of these foods:

  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Ice
  • Hard candies
  • Chewy, sticky candy such as taffy, gummy bears, caramel, etc.
  • Hard cookies or crackers

A balanced diet and proper dental hygiene speed up and improve the effectiveness of orthodontic therapy. Unfortunately, because of the above limitations, some people who wear braces decide to stick to a diet of soft foods with minimal nutritious value. Even if some meals require caution, maintaining good nutrition is more crucial than ever. Orthodontic therapy works better on healthy teeth.

Additionally, using orthodontic equipment increases your chance of developing tooth decay. Cavities and other oral health issues, such as gum disease, can extend the length of the healing process. To guard your smile against tooth decay and oral diseases, maintain a healthy diet and a thorough dental hygiene practice.

Photo showing a woman carefully eating food with braces.

Food can get stuck for long periods of time

One of the setbacks of getting braces is getting food stuck between the teeth or brackets. Pain and discomfort may result from this. The easiest way to prevent this is to have a little kit with a mirror so you can frequently look at them. Toothpaste, a toothbrush, floss, and interdental brushes might be included in this set. This will help you avoid any embarrassing moments. As we said earlier, certain foods that are more prone to cause these issues should be avoided for your own good. Keeping a healthy dental routine is also important to keep the braces as clean as possible. 

Cleaning is very important

We should all strive to practice good oral hygiene in order to preserve the strength and health of our teeth and gums. But after we acquire braces, we’ll need to adjust our oral hygiene routine to take into consideration the new dental device we’ll need to clean around. Cleaning the area surrounding the brackets and wires is crucial for avoiding cavities and tooth decay whether you have lingual braces or regular braces. A proxy brush is only one of the numerous alternatives available for cleaning in between teeth. Other instruments, such as an electric toothbrush, may be used to scrub the area surrounding the brackets completely.

Photo illustrating orthodontic treatments in Albania

Treatment time is custom to you

The length of time needed to treat orthodontic issues with braces varies on a number of variables, with the problem’s severity playing a crucial role. While small concerns like moderate tooth crowding or spacing may be resolved by your professional orthodontist in as little as 6 to 8 months, more complicated disorders affecting the bite may require up to 12 to 18 months of therapy. Compliance from patients is another factor to consider. The length of therapy will greatly extend if a patient repeatedly removes a detachable device or dislodges brackets or ties.

Attending adjustment appointments

You will need to go to adjustment appointments so the orthodontist can tighten and adjust your braces every 4 to 6 weeks during your orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists are experts at straightening teeth, but occasionally their best-laid plans must be modified because your teeth change in ways that they weren’t anticipating. To get the intended outcomes, your doctor may occasionally need to exert more pressure than anticipated and in a different direction. This is why you must attend your scheduled adjustment appointments. 

If you don’t get your braces adjusted, there’s a possibility you won’t receive the results you want. It will also be necessary to alter the tension that the wires and elastics provide in order for your teeth to move as intended by your braces. It’s usually time for an adjustment whenever you feel the pressure on your teeth reducing or even ceasing. Your orthodontist will ensure that all movement is proceeding as intended, update your elastics, and replace or modify your wires if necessary if you show up for all of your planned appointments. 

Photo showing a woman with her retainer after taking off her braces.

You will need to wear a retainer

The crucial task of retaining your teeth in place is done by a retainer. When braces are initially taken off, teeth are most likely to shift back to their original positions. While the braces are on, the gums and fibrous tissues holding the teeth in place are loose. The gums don’t immediately tighten once braces are taken off, thus they don’t provide any resistance to teeth shifting. While the gums heal, wearing a retainer full-time keeps your teeth in place. Your orthodontist may advise you that it’s okay to quit using your retainer during the day but to continue wearing it at night after a few months.

Depending on the type of treatment, different patients should wear retainers for different amounts of time after getting braces. People frequently begin to notice little changes in their teeth as they become older. Continue wearing your retainers on occasion to lessen these alterations.

Table of Contents