If you’ve been considering braces for your kids (or yourself)? Braces are more popular right now than ever before. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare and put aside certain misconceptions you may have heard about braces in the past. Here are 20 things you should to know before committing to the braces journey.
1. The first step is booking a consult.
We went to Level Orthodontics for our consults and ended up getting two sets of braces and an Invisalign correction through them! Consultation appointments should give you the following info:
- Treatment plan
- Treatment time
- Price
- Financing options (some Orthodontics clinics *like LEVEL* even offer 0% interest payment plans!)
- Time for any questions you or your child may have
2. You can consult with an orthodontist as young as 7 and there is no age limit!
Adult braces and Invisalign treatments are very popular too.
3. Before your braces installation date, you should book with a dentist for cleaning and check for cavities.
4. Bring lip balm to your braces installation appointment. During the process of getting them put on, your lips may get very dry or even chapped without it.
5. After the installation of the braces, the wearer may have lisp.
This is most often temporary and goes away as you get used to the braces.
6. The first appointment takes time. Be prepared to be at your first appointment to get your braces for at least an hour. Some people feel pressure during the installation, but don’t worry – it shouldn’t hurt.
7. Your first appointment will include:
- Brackets being glued on & cured
- Wire(s) being clipped into the brackets
- Elastics get put on
Spacer or other hardware may be installed on this day if the Orthodontist has deemed it necessary for treatment. All details should be discussed in your initial consultation.
8. Discomfort varies from person to person. Some people feel pain the first day or two and some just feel pressure. Either way, prepare to eat softer food for the first couple of days after getting your braces on.
9. Your diet may need to change a bit for the duration of braces
Among the list of no-no foods are: popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, hard & raw veggies, caramel, and jerky (to name a fe – Your orthodontist should provide you with a list of foods to avoid when you braces are installed.
10. Cold food will ease the initial discomfort of the braces – hello, ice cream!
11. The look of braces has been normalized!
Don’t worry about how the braces will look – first of all, you will not be alone! You’ll find so many others are also on their braces journey. And I have it on good authority (I have two teens) that braces are actually the cool thing to have right now!
11. Flossing will be hard, and will take longer than pre-braces flossing. Food will get stuck, often.
12. Be prepared to up the oral hygiene game – brushing is more important than ever now!
13. You will see the biggest changes at the beginning – especially during the first 1-2 months of treatment.
14. You. Need. Wax.
It will be your best friend. Just trust me and stock up while you are at the Orthodontist’s office.
15. Your confidence will soar right away! The changes you see fairly quickly will give you a reason to show off that gorgeous smile of yours, braces and all!
16. Expect to attend appointments every 4-6 weeks for your braces
17. You still need to follow up with your dentist.
You, your orthodontist and your dentist all have the same goal: your oral health. Working together will achieve this. You still need to see your dentist for regular cleanings and checks for cavities while you have braces on. In fact, regular cleanings are even more important now that you have braces on!
18. Braces not only change the placement of teeth, but your bite is being corrected. This can add time to your treatment, but not by much. Make sure you follow your Ortho’s instructions to avoid delays due to bite placement (like wearing your elastics regularly!)
One thing they do not correct is the shape of your teeth. That will stay the same 🙂
19. Treatment times vary and expected completion date can change.
You can never be given an exact treatment time right down to the day. Sometimes it can go quicker if your teeth tend to move fast. You can get set back if you choose not to wear elastics as advised, for example. Trust your orthodontist and follow their instructions for your treatment. They should be able to update you with a realistic, approximate timeline for your treatment at your appointments.
20. You need to expect a retainer period.
Retainers come after the braces. Neglecting wearing your retainer as advised can result in your teeth moving back toward their original placement!
Don’t forget to take before/after pictures. These are priceless! You will be happy when your treatment is done if you have before pictures to compare your smile to 🙂 Remember: The end results are worth the work. Have more tips for fellow/future braces wearers? Share them in the comments on our Instagram post about braces!