Patients at Rhoads Orthodontics can struggle a bit at first with getting their braces. But they’re not stepping into the unknown by any means—we make sure of that! Today we’ll go over some tips for transitioning to braces.
Anticipating Changes
No one has ever gotten braces and been a complete natural at handling the process without effort! It takes a lot of education and preparation when you start out, which is why Dr. Rhoads is so dedicated to sharing her knowledge. Here are a few common experiences you can expect when you get your braces:
- Eating Feels Different: Eating is something we’re all used to, but having braces changes it a bit. You might find you’ll need to switch to foods that are softer and easier to eat with braces. Hard and crunchy foods can even damage your braces—so avoid those altogether.
- Occasional Discomfort: Some soreness in your teeth and gums is common, especially as your teeth begin to move for the first time. This is a normal part of the process and usually eases up with time.
- Changing Speech: Your tongue will have to adjust to your appliance when you’re speaking. This usually results in a slight lisp or difficulty pronouncing certain words and sounds. But you will adjust to this in time.
- Emotional Changes: We completely understand that getting braces can cause some stress at first. It’s important to keep your final goal of a new smile in mind when these feelings arise.
- A New Routine: Braces require a pretty extensive care routine, mainly focused on keeping them clean. Dr. Rhoads will provide you with personalized care instructions for your braces, and following these steps will soon become a normal part of your day.
A Smoother Transition
So the question is, how else can you make the beginning of your orthodontic treatment easier? Well, sometimes the solution is to get a bit creative! There are many different tools in your belt to help you out.
- Follow Your Instructions: Dr. Rhoads has created a custom treatment plan tailored specifically to you. For the best results, especially at the beginning of the process, follow it closely and stay consistent with any instructions she provides. One reason this is so important is that your individual orthodontic case might involve special circumstances in addition to tooth alignment.
- Educate Yourself: Please don’t hesitate to ask questions—our team is here to help! Online resources can also provide helpful advice for managing life with braces, especially firsthand blogs and vlogs of other patients going through treatment.
- Specialized Tools: Braces come with plenty of helpful tools available, like interdental brushes, floss threaders, and orthodontic wax. Using these can make your maintenance routine much simpler and more comfortable.
- Embrace Community: In this day and age, braces are a very common experience among all age groups. We encourage you to speak with people in your life who have had, or who currently have braces. Having friends and family in your corner is always an asset.
- Drink Lots of Water: Dry mouth can be considerably worse when you have braces, so it’s important to address it by hydrating properly. Drinking water encourages saliva production and helps rinse the mouth of debris after eating.
- Stock Up on Soft Foods: Gums and teeth can get fairly sore when your braces are first applied, as well as after being tightened. Foods like yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soups will be friendlier to your mouth during these periods.
- Regular Adjustments: Part of the process of making braces work is manual adjustments made by Dr. Rhoads. She tightens them at predetermined intervals to guide your teeth into their intended positions. For this reason, you need to be diligent about attending your office visits to Rhoads Orthodontics. Skipping any of these can be seriously detrimental to your overall progress.
- Track Progress: Using your phone’s camera to take images of your smile every few weeks can be a great resource for keeping track of how your teeth are moving. It can remind you of the work you’ve been doing and help you feel accomplished when you may be losing motivation.
The Bottom Line
Having braces can feel like it bears a massive learning curve—but our commitment to you is that we will help you make this more manageable. Whether you’re a teenager in school or you’re an adult working a full-time job, we promise that you will be able to overcome initial challenges! Rhoads Orthodontics is a pillar of the Cranberry Township community for having helped patients of all ages, and we’re genuinely excited to welcome you into our office soon!