{"id":84,"date":"2022-02-04T20:42:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T20:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/?p=84"},"modified":"2024-06-10T11:52:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T11:52:25","slug":"what-is-life-after-braces-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/04\/what-is-life-after-braces-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Life After Braces Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/AdobeStock_269702286__1647981377_23398-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"teenage girl smiling\" class=\"wp-image-85\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/AdobeStock_269702286__1647981377_23398-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/AdobeStock_269702286__1647981377_23398-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/AdobeStock_269702286__1647981377_23398.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The day has finally arrived \u2013 your braces are coming off and it\u2019s happening before your junior year of high school is over just as you\u2019d hoped! While this is a big moment, it doesn\u2019t exactly mean that your orthodontic journey is finished. Your smile is much straighter now, but there\u2019s still some work to do. As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/braces.html\">your orthodontist in Frisco<\/a> reminds you, there are a few crucial steps to ensure that these results you\u2019ve invested the time in never fade away. Here\u2019s what to expect when it comes to adjusting to life after braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I Need to Wear Something After My Braces Come Off?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After your braces are removed, you\u2019ll need to wear a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/retainer-instructions.html\">retainer<\/a> to preserve your new smile. It\u2019s an orthodontic tool that helps keep your teeth from shifting back to their position prior to treatment. Essentially, you can view retainers as an insurance plan for life after braces in Frisco. Shortly before they come off, you and your orthodontist will discuss your options and decide on the best type of retainer for your lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are two options available to most patients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fixed Retainers <\/strong>\u2013 These are bonded to the back of your teeth, making them virtually invisible. They\u2019re most commonly used for bottom teeth. Keep in mind that fixed retainers are not permanent and can be removed within a few months or years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Removable Retainers <\/strong>\u2013 These are commonly used for the top teeth and only need to be worn at nighttime. Depending on your needs, your orthodontist may recommend a specific treatment plan to keep your teeth aligned.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should I Expect When It Comes to Eating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While undergoing orthodontic treatment, you were advised to stay away from certain foods and drinks. Well, once your braces are removed, you\u2019re free to enjoy these foods once again! That means you can bite into an apple, munch on corn on the cob, or indulge in a handful of crunchy chips if you want to. Now that your braces are off, you no longer have to worry about avoiding these snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Will My Teeth Feel?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the entire duration of your orthodontic treatment, your teeth have been under constant tension to move into the correct position. As a result, your pearly whites will feel quite different once your braces come off. They\u2019ll likely feel more exposed and sensitive for a while afterward. That said, you may want to give yourself some time to adjust to life after braces before eating crunchy or chewy foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What About the Color of My Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you were diligent about brushing and flossing while wearing braces, your teeth may still look discolored once they\u2019re removed. But don\u2019t worry \u2013 it\u2019s completely normal! If you\u2019re particularly concerned by it, your orthodontist may recommend some form of professional whitening to fix the issue. However, since your teeth will be sensitive immediately following the removal of your braces, you\u2019ll have to wait 1-2 months before getting a whitening treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to maintain that beautiful smile you\u2019ve invested so much time in through college and beyond, you must take proper care of your teeth after your braces are removed. It\u2019s the best way to ensure your hard-earned results are here to stay and you enjoy life after braces!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/meet-dr-buchwald.html\">Dr. Bradley Buchwald<\/a> earned his dental doctorate at Nova Southeastern University. He went on to complete a three-year orthodontic residency at the prestigious Texas A&amp;M University Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, earning both a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology. Whether you are interested in braces, getting a retainer for life after braces, or any other orthodontic needs, Dr. Buchwald is ready to help. You can schedule an appointment on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/request-a-complimentary-consultation.html\">website<\/a> or by calling (972) 377-5940.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The day has finally arrived \u2013 your braces are coming off and it\u2019s happening before your junior year of high school is over just as you\u2019d hoped! While this is a big moment, it doesn\u2019t exactly mean that your orthodontic journey is finished. Your smile is much straighter now, but there\u2019s still some work to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84\/revisions\/192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buchwaldortho.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}