You’ve spent your whole life without braces until now, so it only makes sense you would feel a little apprehensive about getting orthodontic treatment. You are likely wondering just how you feel with braces, what will be safe to eat, and how to best go about your daily routine with braces. Luckily, these questions will all be answered when you visit us here at Austin Orthodontics, so you’ll be fully prepared to handle life with braces. Here are some important things you will know after your first appointment. 

Food Restrictions

One of the most important aspects of orthodontic treatment to be prepared for is knowing what is okay to eat and what foods could damage your braces. While you won’t have to just stick to applesauce or jello, you’ll want to avoid especially crunchy foods like granola, hard candy, or apples. It’s also best to avoid sticky or chewy foods like taffy or jerky. 

To prepare yourself for a braces-friendly diet, stock up on softer foods and spend a couple weeks figuring out which foods you like best. If you will be using Invisalign, you’ll have no restrictions on the foods you can eat, but you’ll still need to remember to have your aligners out when you eat and to keep up with regular cleaning. 

Cleaning Your Teeth

Speaking of cleaning, you will have to take extra good care of your teeth while you have braces to avoid tooth decay and staining. Since food can easily get trapped between brackets, you should carefully brush your teeth with toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush after each meal. It’s also good to rinse with mouthwash every day to thoroughly clean your teeth. In addition, you will have to be extra careful when flossing, since you will have to maneuver the floss around the brackets and wires. 

Dealing with Initial Discomfort

When you first get your braces, you may experience some discomfort due to them rubbing against the inside of your cheeks or lips. This won’t always be the norm with your braces, but you’ll certainly want ease the discomfort when you start your treatment. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water will help ease the pain in your mouth while also facilitating quick healing. 

It also may be difficult to talk right when you get your braces installed since there is suddenly less space for your lips, teeth, and tongue to interact. This will also go away after a short time as you get used to your braces. 

When You Will Get Your Braces Taken off

One of the biggest questions you will likely have when you start your treatment with braces is just how long you will have to keep your braces in. The answer will vary from person to person, but the most common range to expect is anywhere between 18 months and two years. At Austin Orthodontics, we always give our patients a rough estimate of when they will be done with treatment, while emphasizing the fact that the end date may change based on the way your teeth react to treatment.

While this is some of the most important information to get at your first orthodontic appointment, we love answering all of the questions our patients have. So be sure to ask us whatever you want to know at any time during your treatment.