Who does not love a beautifully aligned smile? And braces are the most effective approach to attain them. Although the braces give excitement, it also comes with a lot of confusion. But braces also come with little lifestyle changes. While your teeth get adjusted to the braces, so are you. 

Do braces cause any discomfort in the beginning?

The braces work by putting pressure on the jaws and teeth. This pressure helps in by applying pressure over time, braces progressively realign your teeth and the jaw. Even if it;s light, this pressure remains constant. The teeth may become a little sensitive to touch and the gums may also be a little sore. When the braces are on for the first time you might need a doctor appointment to adjust the pain. If the discomfort is persisting for a long time visit a dentist in Coimbatore to find relief. 

Patients usually complain about the signs:

• The experience of pressure in the gums and teeth
• The new braces may cause minor abrasions in the side. 

Usually the discomfort settles down within a week or two. 

What are the best tips to follow after the dental braces?

As the dental braces may cause some discomfort and pain for a certain period of time, it is important to follow certain tips to ensure you have a smooth time adjusting to the new lifestyle.

Be careful with what you eat:

You can eat immediately after the braces procedure, it is advised to have softer foods and avoid eating foods that are harder in texture. There are different types of braces which may require different food habits. Talk to your doctor to know what suits your braces. This helps your teeth to adjust to new settings. 

The foods you eat with braces:

• Soft cheese
• Milk 
• Soft cooked rice
• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt 
• Pudding 
• Ice creams
• Porridge 

The following foods should be avoided while wearing dental braces:

• Granola 
• Candy 
• Fried chicken 
• Popcorn 
• Hard cookies 

Use saltwater rinse:

You can feel irritation on the lips and cheeks in the first week of the braces. Over time your mouth can get toughen and eventually you get used to it. You can soothe the discomfort with a simple salt water rinse during the early stages. To warm water add a spoon of water, squish a little water in your mouth and spit it out. You may repeat it again as often as you’d like.

Practice a good hygiene routine:

After every meal, brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush and make sure any food particles that might get stuck in the braces. It is important to brush twice a day and make a routine. There might be little chances for teeth problems to develop if you brush your teeth twice a day. Braces and dental care go hand in hand in maintaining the braces healthy. 

Brush the top and bottom of your brackets with a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle pressure while tilting the brush at a 45-degree angle. Pay close attention to your gum line as well. Get beneath your molars and all of the surfaces of each and every tooth.

You may talk a little funny:

When you wear braces in your mouth, you must learn to adjust with them. It may initially seem as though you have a slight slip or talk differently. Within a few days, your speech will normally be back. Talking as much as you can help in bringing your speech back to normal sooner than expected.

You may feel that look different:

It is quite common to feel that way. Because you have braces on your teeth that may make you feel that your lips are a little and your face may look swollen in the cheek area. As you are still adjusting to your new braces, so is your face and this feeling will fade over time. But do not worry you will still look the same.

Your teeth and facial jaw area can be sensitive:

As the pressure is applied on the teeth and jaw you might feel a certain amount of pain and sensitivity usually this normal only for a few days. This sensitivity and pain will eventually calm down. But in case you experience severe pain you need to consult a doctor right away. 

Your mouth can feel dry:

In initial stages your mouth may feel a little dry and this is considered normal. Usually you tend to chew and drink a lot so this keeps producing saliva in your mouth. But with braces your eating and drinking is reduced significantly. So saliva production is also reduced, the only way to reduce this is to hydrate a lot. 

Learn to handle any minor emergencies:

Although they can be extremely rare, sometimes a sudden loose bracket may occur or even a poking wire. This can occur when eating something hard to chew or even all of a sudden. In case knowing how to react can help and keep the minor cuts away. 

You may need learn few things new:

With a new set of appliances fixed in your mouth doing things normally may not suit a few. So you might need to learn a few things to perform in a different way. Like brushing or flossing may also be performed in a new way. 

Important Takeaway:

Getting adjusted to braces may definitely take some time as it may feel entirely different in the jaw area. Your eating habits may also need adjusting. But on a positive note when the braces are removed your teeth will be aligned perfectly and your smile is going to be perfect. Mild discomfort and pain is common but immense pain needs to be immediately addressed. Reach out to the best dental hospitals in Coimbatore in case you are looking to get a new set of braces to fix your teeth.