I recently decided to be brave and get clear braces. At 25 years old, the clear
braces and the new incognito braces (the kind that are actually behind the
teeth) were the only options for me. The incognito braces were a few grand more expensive than the clear with both having great results, so I decided to go with the clear set.
braces and the new incognito braces (the kind that are actually behind the
teeth) were the only options for me. The incognito braces were a few grand more expensive than the clear with both having great results, so I decided to go with the clear set.
Well it has been over a year with braces and I have seen some great changes to my teeth! It is very exciting; however braces can be uncomfortable to say the least. In my first few months of wearing braces, I learned quite a few things and would like to share some tips!
Let's start off talking about food. I mean I know you're thinking about, right?
1.
Eat The Foods You Normally Crave Before Your First Appointment
This was the
number 1 lesson that I learned. Before I went to my
appointment I went to a restaurant to get some hot wings (regular on the bone).
They were soo good! I am glad I did that because for the first few weeks I was
eating baby food… You know... Applesauce, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese…
You can imagine how much
I would have been craving hot wings had I not eaten it beforehand! Eat your
favorite foods before your first appointment, you'll thank me.
Photo Credit:https://www.flickr.com/photos/themarmot/
Photo Credit:https://www.flickr.com/photos/themarmot/
Since we are on the
subject of food… Here is one mistake I made. I got my braces put on during the
holiday season. What was I thinking! – Oh yeah... that I wanted straight pearly
white teeth... Well, my advice is to get braces well in advance of or right after the
holiday season. This really helps because you won’t feel bad that you can’t eat
all of the foods you love on Thanksgiving and you will be less likely to be
tempted to eat something that may risk you losing a bracket. (losing brackets
can mean extended treatment). Not good!
Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/
3. Use Oral B Gentle Glide Floss
Once you have your
braces on, you will thank me for this one. Especially if you are at the
beginning of your treatment. Once you get your braces put on flossing really
hurts in those tight spaces. Oral B Gentle Glide was the first thing I bought.
Please do yourself a favorite and ditch the floss that the orthodontist gives
you and buy the Oral B Gentle Glide floss if you have tightly spaced teeth.
4.
Floss Threaders Are Your Friend!
Now that you have the
right floss, you will need to use flosser threaders to get the floss under your
wire easily. Your orthodontist should give you a few packets upon your first
visit. You will need a lot of these throughout your treatment. If you can, I’d
ask for them every time you visit the orthodontist.
5.
Stock Up On Brushes
Along with the floss
threaders you will want to change your toothbrush every 3 months and also get
some inter-dental brushes. The orthodontist will have some of these to give you
as well. You will need this kind of brush to get in between your teeth in those
spaces that your regular toothbrush cannot reach.
6.
Always Keep a Travel Size Tooth Brush
The orthodontist will
tell you that you need to brush after each meal and floss at night. Get a
travel size tooth brush and travel size toothpaste and you’ll be all set to
handle brushing 3-4 times a day.
7.
Grab A Bottle Of Water
What does water have to
do with your braces? Well… after meals food is everywhere… but with a couple of
swish-swish with water after a meal really helps, especially if you are at a
restaurant or at work and have difficulty brushing right away. Plus, water is
so good for you, but I’ll get to that in another post…
8. Consider A WaterFlosser
For those times right after you've visited the ortho, and your gum are a little tender, it's nice to have a water flosser. The waterflosser will be gentle on your gums and ensure that you continue to keep your good dental hygiene routine. You kind of get the option to skip traditional floss once or twice during week which is really nice.
9. Carry Lip Balm More Than You Ever Did Before
10. Smile As Normal
When I first got my
braces put on. I was self-conscious about them. So much so that I would make
sure to cover my teeth when I talked and give those closed-mouthed smiles.
Needless to say, people noticed more and paid closer attention to my mouth. I
had one person ask me if was I okay, and I told her about the braces. Once I
showed her, she told me that she would have never noticed had I not have been
hiding my mouth. I no longer hide. To this day a lot of people don’t notice or
forget they are even there. Clear braces are awesome! You really can let your
smile shine through. So smile easy!
Get to love your braces and the time in them will go buy really
fast!
