Beginning orthodontic treatment can be both exciting and intimidating. Our orthodontic team at Jaffe Orthodontics in Barrington, Portsmouth, and Bristol wants to help you feel prepared as you begin your Invisalign, adult braces, or any of our orthodontic treatments. In order to help you adjust to those first few days with braces, we gathered some tips and insights to help you get started on the path to a beautiful new smile!
It is not uncommon for your teeth to feel tender or sore after first getting braces. Our Barrington, Portsmouth & Bristol, RI orthodontist suggests taking acetaminophen (Tylenol®, for example) for this soreness, as other pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen slow down tooth movement. However, you may take a dose of Tylenol and a dose of Advil together for the first day or two – this should be more than enough to relieve any discomfort. After the first few days, our orthodontist suggests that you switch to Tylenol, and use only as needed. After roughly four days, you should notice your discomfort decreasing every day until you feel completely normal again, roughly a week or two after first getting braces.
At any point during your teen or adult braces treatment, brackets may come loose from your teeth. This problem is easily fixed – simply call our Barrington, Portsmouth, and Bristol office to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist. Dr. Jaffe can re-attach the bracket, so your teeth will stay on track. If brackets come loose regularly during the length of your orthodontic treatment, however, it may indicate that you need to pay more attention to the foods you are eating, or the activities you are engaging in (at least without a proper mouth guard).
For the most part, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Your Portsmouth orthodontist recommends that you minimize sugary foods, as they can cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should also be avoided after you receive braces from our Barrington, Portsmouth & Bristol orthodontist.
Proper oral hygiene is always important, but it is especially critical when undergoing orthodontic treatment. This is because braces can make it more difficult for you to brush and floss properly. In order to keep your teeth healthy during your teenage or adult braces treatment, our Portsmouth orthodontist will demonstrate how to clean around brackets, thread floss between the wires, and other strategies for cleaning your teeth while wearing braces.
Braces should be an exciting time; you are on the path to a beautiful, healthy smile. If you have any questions about what to expect during treatment, please contact us at Jaffe Orthodontics. We would be happy to address any concerns you may have. With orthodontic treatments such as adult braces, Invisalign, and AcceleDent, our team provides lasting and effective orthodontic improvements. Schedule an appointment today to start working towards your dream smile.
Thank you for choosing Dr. Jordan Jaffe as your local Barrington, Portsmouth, Bristol, Middletown, RI and Swansea, MA orthodontist. At Jaffe Orthodontics, we work hard to accommodate your schedule and make an appointment that works best for you. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation for our clear braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen treatment and more please fill out the form below. Once you submit our form, a member of our Barrington and Portsmouth orthodontics staff will contact you as soon as possible.