Life with Braces
After You Get Braces
At Nexus, we do everything that we can to support you in the aftercare of getting your braces, especially when you leave our New Hyde Park offices. Traditional braces is a standard and the most common procedure in our orthodontics practice for member of our community of all ages - from early treatment, to teens, to adult treatment. Here are some recommendations from our orthodontic experts on immediate aftercare.
At first, right after you get braces, you’ll likely notice that your teeth feel tender and sore and that soreness may even extend to areas of your mouth. This is a normal and temporary side effect of getting braces; the pain will dissipate in a couple of days. In the meantime, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of room temperature water. Take a sip, swish and gargle in your mouth for a couple of minutes. Try your best not to swallow it. You may also take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like Tylenol, to reduce the swelling and pain.
At the end of your orthodontic procedure, we will provide you with some wax; this will support in alleviating any discomfort or irritation you might experience in your lips or cheeks as the skin becomes used to the braces rubbing against it.
In the first couple of weeks after getting braces, you may feel as though some of your teeth are loosening up, and that is because they are. Don’t worry - this is expected. Your braces first loosen your teeth in order to push them into the correct alignment. Once the brackets of your braces have done their job moving the teeth into the right place, they won’t feel as loose.
Care of Orthodontic Appliances
Before you leave our orthodontics offices, Dr. Shauna and her team will be sure to educate you and walk you through how to properly take care of your braces, Invisalign, retainer, or other devices. It’s important to build this into your regular daily routines because damaged appliances can impede on your treatment and lengthen your treatment process. If you, at any time, have any questions about the care of your orthodontic appliances, even if it’s after your appointment or between visits, please reach out to us. At Nexus, we’re always here for you
Everyday Life with Braces
Playing Sports
We have a diverse community of patients at Nexus and we don’t want braces to interfere with your everyday lives or interests. A common question that we get is, “Can I still play sports?”
Yes!!
Please keep playing your sports! We do recommend that you let Dr. Shauna and your Nexus care team know aboutu the sports you’ll be playing as it could be beneficial to get a mouthguard. Let us know if you need support in choosing the best mouthguard for your orthodontic treatment and your sports.
In the event of a sports emergency, check your mouth and orthodontic appliances immediately for damage or for loose teeth. Contact our office right away if you signs of either. We will give you the best next steps - whether it is pain management or coming into our offices in New Hyde Park to receive an emergency fix.
Eating with Braces
Perhaps the most commonly asked question. While there are a couple of categories of foods that we recommend you avoid, most of the food world is still completely safe for you to explore while you are going through your orthodontic procedure. We’ve made an infographic for you - feel free to download it as a little cheat sheet for yourself!
