Getting braces is a fairly long commitment. Therefore, you want to be sure that you are aware of everything that goes into the treatment. Below, we will go over some of the key things that you should be aware of prior to getting braces.
Key Things To Know:
1. It’s A Long Process.
Getting braces is something that you need to be prepared for because it is a fairly long process even for simple cases.
Therefore, you need to be willing and able to commit to a minimum of 1 year when you are getting braces. However, some treatments might last upwards of 2 years or more.
2. Be Prepared To Have Issues Speaking Initially.
One of the key things that you will want to be aware of going into the process would be the fact that you might have issues speaking initially.
When you get your braces put on, you might develop a lisp.
This is normal but will subside as you get used to speaking with larger gaps between your lips and teeth.
3. Keep Your Lips Moistened.
When you are just getting started with your treatment, your lips are likely to be very sore. Not only is the process of putting the dental braces on quite long, but the brackets might cause you some discomfort as you get used to them.
Therefore, you should be looking to apply lip balm to your lips regularly and you also want to get yourself dental wax.
That way, you can place the wax on areas that might be causing your lips irritation.
4. Get The Proper Dental Tools.
Another thing that you are going to want to do prior to getting your braces installed would be to get dental tools that you are going to need to use in order to floss your teeth properly. You won’t be able to use traditional floss like you normally would.
Therefore, to make your life easier, you could get floss picks designed to be used for those that have braces getting in the way.
This is going to make it easier to keep up with your dental hygiene.
5. Your Teeth Will Hurt.
Unfortunately, braces are a treatment that is going to cause some pain at various points throughout the treatment. Therefore, you should be prepared to experience pain in your mouth especially after visits where you get the braces tightened.
Because of this, you need to be aware of the pain that you might experience to push through it.
While the pain that you experience will be subjective, everyone will experience discomfort at times throughout the course of treatment.
6. Food Can Get Stuck.
You need to pay careful attention to your dental hygiene when you are looking to care for your teeth with braces. You want to avoid getting food stuck and having food caught in between your teeth for long periods of time.
For this reason, you might want to carry a toothbrush along with you to brush your teeth after you eat. This will allow you to maintain optimal oral hygiene.
7. Expect Your Teeth To Change A Lot.
With braces, you should expect a significant change in your teeth and the positioning of them even in the first month of treatment. Braces begin to work very fast which should give you the confidence that you need to continue on with the treatment to its completion.
Overall, there is a lot that you are going to want to be aware of when going into your braces treatment. While they are expensive, the results will pay off in a big way.