2 Tips For Getting Through Your First Week Of Braces

by Stacy Nelson

A lot of the time, the first week of having braces can be the hardest. You are going to go through a big adjustment in multiple ways. You are going to need to learn how to eat with braces, as well as what you can eat with braces. You are also going to have to get used to having brackets and wires in your mouth because they are going to feel much different against your gums than just your regular, smooth teeth. Thankfully, there are certain things that you can do that will make getting through your first week of braces much easier and more doable for you. This article is going to discuss 2 of these tips in detail. 

Eat Soft Foods 

During your first week of having braces, your teeth are going to be very sensitive. This is going to be due to the fact that they not only had brackets and wires put on them, but also that these wires immediately started the process of moving your teeth into proper alignment. Because your teeth hurt, you are not going to want to do a lot of chewing. However, since you still need to eat, it is going to be important that you choose the right foods. During this first week, soft foods are going to be your best friends. If a food is going to require you to chew more than one or two times before swallowing, then you are likely going to want to avoid it. A good example of soft foods that you should eat in a day would include cream of wheat for breakfast, soup for lunch, a fruit smoothie for a snack, and mashed potatoes and meatloaf for dinner. 

Put Your Wax On Thick 

As your gums are getting used to the brackets and wires that are now on your teeth, they are likely going to get a bit torn up. This may cause you to feel pain and is likely going to cause some bleeding. A great way to reduce this pain, and slowly get used to having braces, is to put wax on your teeth. During the first week especially, you are going to want to put the wax on nice and thick in the areas where you are feeling the most pain. This is going to allow you to have a reprieve from the pain, which will help your gums to heal and then adjust to the new surface. 

For more information, contact local professionals like Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP.

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