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After Braces Care Guide

Dear Patient,  

Congratulations! This is your complete after braces care guide. Let’s walk you through it step-by-step.

You’re on your way to straighter teeth and a better smile!

All patients initially feel strange and awkward, but everyone gets used to braces in a few days. Here are a few tips to ease you in…

I feel Weird after Braces…

  • Your lips may feel ‘stuck’ on the braces. That’s because your teeth are no longer ‘flat’.
  • In a few days, your lips and cheeks will adjust to this.
  • It may taste sour/ metallic taste just after braces are installed, but that will go away.
  • There’s more saliva in your mouth for the first week. This will re-adjust with time.
  • Lips tend to get dry. Do apply lip balm, especially before you sleep (even more so in an air-con room!).

FAQs

Expand all

  • For the first 3-5 days, as your teeth start to move, it is normal to feel discomfort and a dull ache when you chew.
  • A soft diet and taking the prescribed painkillers will help.
  • If our orthodontists have placed a thermally-activated Nickel Titanium wire as your starting wire, then gargling, drinking cold water, or sucking on ice can provide relief.
  • Teeth that are moving from crooked to straight will feel ‘shaky.’ This is normal.
  • Patients do get ulcers from new braces. Sleeping on the side of your face can cause ulcers to develop on that side. Use braces wax at bedtime to reduce ulcers from developing!
  • Applying the prescribed ulcer cream to the ulcer helps! These ulcers gradually disappear as your mouth gets used to them.
  • Use braces wax! Wrap up any ‘bulky’ braces areas with wax to buffer against ulcers.
  • Drying the braces first helps braces wax stick better to the braces.
  • Soft wax that is accidentally swallowed is ok. It will pass out when you go to the toilet (like fibre!).
  • Remove any soft wax on the braces before brushing.
  • Watch our Video on ‘How to use Braces Wax to manage poking wires’.
  • Watch our Video on ‘How to use Braces Wax to stabilise a loose bracket’.

 

How to use braces wax

 
  • Your regular diet will not be affected; just modify how you eat.
  • Apples, raw carrots, and meat should be cut into smaller pieces and chew with your back teeth.
  • Avoid hard and sticky foods like peanuts, chewing ice cubes, crab claws and chewing gum.
  • Sometimes, with hard food or trauma, the braces may ‘pop’ off. Accidents can happen and are easily managed.  Wrap the loose braces with wax. If it irritates you, call us for an earlier appointment.
  • Reduce the intake of soft drinks as the high sugar and acidic nature can cause tooth decay around braces, leaving permanent white spots.

  • Do brush your teeth, gums & braces at least twice a day.
  • Use specialised orthodontic toothbrushes designed to fit around brackets and wires. These brushes have a ‘V’-shaped groove to fit around braces for better cleaning.
  • Avoid electric toothbrushes as the bristles of the fast-spinning electric toothbrush head often get stuck in the braces.
  • Start using the super-charged Fluoride mouth rinse designed for braces to prevent decay. Prevention is better (and cheaper!) than cure.
  • Gargle with water often, especially after meals.
  • Powered water flossers designed for braces like the Waterpik may be easier to use for better braces care!
  • Use the ‘Christmas tree’ brush (interdental brush) to clean under the wire in an ‘up-down’ fashion every night before brushing your teeth.
  • Watch our Video on ‘How to use the interdental brush to clean around braces’.
  • Watch our Video on ‘How to Brush Your Teeth with Fixed Braces’. 

 

Cleaning with interdental brush

 
 

Call us at 6737 9797 (Holland V. branch) or 6530 3605 (Novena branch) during office hours, if you need help with your braces care. In the meantime, Click Here for quick tips on managing braces emergencies. 

Before you go, if you love what we do, please share the love by leaving us a review here. Thank you!

Cheers always, 
MyBracesClinic

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