Whether you are a young person or an adult, you likely have a lot of questions about what to expect during the first week of wearing braces. The first week is your transition week. It typically takes about a week to get used to wearing braces.
Knowing exactly what to expect during this first week can help with your transition. Braces can be life-changing in more ways than one, and you should be prepared for these changes.
What You Should Expect
Everyone who gets braces for the first time has questions about the process, the discomfort, the cost, and a wide range of other topics.
Most people want to know if they should expect to feel pain from their braces in the first week. You may feel tender or sore, but you should not feel true pain. If you do feel pain, contact the orthodontist. Most people erroneously believe that orthodontic treatment is painful, but it is not. If you’re in pain, make an appointment with your orthodontist right away.
About 20% of orthodontic patients are adults. One of the leading questions adults have about the adjustment period is “when will I be able to speak normally again?” The answer is pretty quickly. Your mouth has to adjust to the braces, so it may feel funny at first when you say certain words. However, within a very short period of time, you will be accustomed to the braces and your ability to pronounce certain words will return.
Your lips and cheeks will toughen up with time. Initially, you can expect some soreness around the soft tissue spaces in your mouth, but that will subside as your mouth gets accustomed to the braces. This can take a week or two.
What You Should Do the First Week
This is the time to start developing very good oral hygiene habits. Brushing three times a day and flossing is imperative while you wear braces. Developing good habits early on will ensure those good oral hygiene habits stick.
Keep your diet full of soft foods and water. Immediately following the bonding appointment for your braces, you want to eat with soft foods only. You will also want to avoid hot foods or beverages. After that first 24-hour period, you can eat whatever you are comfortable eating but you do want to avoid:
- Hard, crunchy foods
- Sticky foods and sugary treats
- Overly chewy foods like bagels
Ultimately, it’s really up to your own comfort level as to what it is that you eat. We recommend cutting food into small chunks and avoiding things that will stick to your teeth and braces.
The first week of wearing braces is an exciting time because you are on the path to that perfect smile. Wearing braces will give you a huge return on your investment. Make an appointment with our team today if you are searching for an orthodontist that focuses on delivering high-quality results.