Did you just survive your first couple of weeks with braces from your orthodontist in Frisco? Getting through this initial adjustment period can help you learn a lot about what to expect in your daily life while you’re undergoing treatment. By the time you visit your dentist for your first follow-up appointment, it’s important to ask them about any questions or issues that you faced since you had your orthodontic appliance placed. Here are five questions to ask your orthodontist to start you off.
Do I Need to Watch What I Eat the Entire Time I Have Braces?
Yes! Unfortunately, achieving straighter teeth over the course of your treatment is dependent on how closely you follow the regiment that your orthodontist has set out for you. If you chew on items that are hard and sticky, it could cause a bracket to fall off of your tooth or an archwire to break, setting your entire treatment timeline back until your appliance gets fixed. That’s why it’s best to simply avoid these types of snacks and foods for the duration of your treatment.
Is There An Easier Way to Floss with Braces?
If you’re having difficulty reaching between the brackets and wires of your braces to remove lodged food debris and cleaning between your teeth, you may want to consider investing in a Waterpik. This is a common brand of water flosser that acts like a carwash for your teeth, removing any built-up debris and keeping cavities from forming while you undergo treatment.
What Toothbrush Would You Recommend While Undergoing Treatment?
Just like with flossing, brushing may also be a difficult task to complete effectively. Fortunately, there are several different shapes, sizes, and types of toothbrushes available to make it easier, like the Oral-B Ortho Soft that has V-shaped bristles to remove plaque and food from teeth and braces.
How Can I Keep Oral Sores from Forming from My Braces?
Unfortunately, you’ll likely experience an overwhelming number of downsides to treatment when you first start, but that’s just because your mouth is continuing to adjust to the appliance. To keep this from happening, you can check all of your wires and brackets for sharp ends or areas and place orthodontic wax over them. This will keep them from rubbing and scraping the inside of your cheeks and lips.
Is it Normal That I’ve Been Salivating More?
You may find that you’ve been producing more saliva since you had your braces put on. Fortunately, this is completely normal, and you should notice that it will go away soon. It’ll make you feel like you have to swallow more until your mouth gets used to the appliance being there.
You orthodontist in Frisco can provide you with more insight on adjusting to your new life with braces. They can also offer helpful tips and tricks that their patients in the past have utilized while undergoing treatment so you can breeze through this process with ease.
About the Author
Dr. Bradley Buchwald is passionate about helping straighten his patients’ smiles and improve their oral health by offering effective, custom-tailored orthodontic treatments to help meet their unique needs. He has been awarded a number of academic achievements, including the Dean’s award and graduating as the valedictorian of his dental class. After dental school, he completed a three-year orthodontic residency and earned his Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science in Oral Biology. For questions or to schedule your next appointment with your orthodontist, visit Buchwald Orthodontics’ website or call 972-377-5940.