What Happens After Braces?
Long Beach, CA – If you are an orthodontic patient currently wearing braces, chances are good you’re counting down the days until they come off. But what can you expect on that anticipated day, and beyond?
First, there will be some things you’ll notice right away once you begin your life without braces. The inside of your lips may have developed small callouses on them. You probably didn’t notice this while your braces were on, but these callouses formed to protect the insides of your mouth from the metal brackets of your braces. But don’t worry, that once sensitive skin will return in no time.
You may think you look a bit different, and that’s normal. You’ve gotten used to the way your smile was before, and then you got used to how you looked with braces. Once your teeth are properly aligned, it can change the way you look….but for the better! You may find yourself staring at your straight, new smile in the mirror a lot.
You can go back to eating whatever you want. The days of eating popcorn and chewy, sticky candies are back! You spent many months avoiding certain foods to accommodate your braces, but now you can enjoy all those treats that were on the no list.
But you may also notice in the days after having your braces removed that your teeth feel a bit tender. Removing your braces isn’t painful, but it does require a bit of pressure, so you may notice your mouth feels similar to how it did after a wire adjustment. In a couple of days, you’ll be just fine but you can always take Advil or Tylenol for any discomfort.
Brushing and flossing will be much easier. Caring for your teeth while in braces requires extra time and attention to ensure you get under and around the brackets and wires. Now that your braces are off, you can go back to your standard oral hygiene routine. If you notice any stains on your teeth once the braces are removed, this could be due to either extrinsic staining or decalcification of the enamel due to poor oral hygiene throughout orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist will be sure to help you understand why any stains are present, what the cause of the staining may be, and your options on how to correct it.
Your treatment isn’t over yet. Yes, the day your braces come off is like a holiday, but that doesn’t mean you’re finished with us quite yet. You’ll need to wear a retainer after your braces come off to ensure that smile stays beautiful. We will continue to see you for follow-up appointments to check your retainers and ensure your teeth remain straight.
The biggest thing you’ll have to get used to after braces is wearing your retainer. Your orthodontist will tell you the best retainer wear regimen for you, but we typically recommend full time wear for the first year followed by nighttime for a lifetime. They can be removed to eat, but should then be put right back in afterward.
Retainer wear is crucial to maintaining that straight smile for a couple of reasons. First, your teeth will take some time to get used to their new locations. The tissues holding the teeth in place are elastic, and until they are used to their new locations, they will have a tendency to pull the teeth back to where they used to be.
Additionally, teeth shift on their own as we age. To prevent your smile from becoming crooked or damaging, it’s important to wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist recommends. Read this post to learn more about the importance of wearing retainers.
Our office is always here to answer your questions, whether you are a current patient, or had braces years ago. Once you’re an HD Orthodontics patient, you’re always a member of our family. You can call our office anytime to ask a question, and can schedule an appointment if you are worried your smile may have shifted.