You may already know braces could straighten your smile well. Still, consider a specific question before you commit to them: What does getting braces feel like? Learning its answer would boost your confidence in treatment and make your care smoother. As for where to find the right details, let your Newpark Orthodontist help out. Read on to learn about the placement process for braces, how it feels, and ways to adjust to it afterward.
How Do Orthodontists Place Braces?
Before you learn how it feels to get braces, you must know how orthodontists place them. Doing so lets you see why treatment feels the way it does.
An orthodontist follows several steps to place a patient’s braces. First, they’ll attach bands around your back molars and “etch” your other teeth with a solution. They’ll then wash off the solution and apply glue to one or both rows of your smile. From there, the orthodontist will mount brackets to each tooth and harden the glue with blue light. They’ll wrap things up by connecting the mounted brackets to a wire, which will attach to the bands around your molars.
After the placement work, an orthodontist only has to make periodic adjustments. These sessions occur every few weeks to ensure your braces move your teeth properly.
What Does Getting Braces Feel Like?
The good news is that getting braces is generally smooth and painless. While you may not like the process, it shouldn’t cause any major discomfort.
Orthodontists are gentle when they place braces on someone’s grin. As they clean the teeth and apply dental glue, they don’t remove any of your enamel or cut into mouth tissues. That means their actions won’t upset or irritate your oral nerves. At most, you’ll just feel some pressure as the dental team sets the brackets and wires.
Granted, your teeth and gums will likely feel sore right after the placement. Your braces will start moving them in ways they aren’t used to. Even so, this pain should ease within a few days.
Tips on Adjusting to Your Braces
There are a few ways you could adjust to your braces more quickly. They include:
- Take Pain Relievers: Consider using over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like ibuprofen.
- Rinse with Salt Water: By rinsing with warm saltwater, you’ll reduce the irritation in your mouth.
- Apply Some Ice: To numb your mouth, you could apply a cloth-covered ice pack to your face.
- Eat Soft Foods: Instead of tough meals, have soft foods like soup, ice cream, or yogurt.
You shouldn’t worry about what getting braces feels like. Instead, look forward to how the devices will fix your crooked grin!
About the Practice
Newpark Mall Family Dental Group is based in Newark, CA, and led by Drs. Quach, Rosato, and Lei. Here at our practice, we always strive to give each patient smooth and easy dental care. That means our team offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services tailored to your unique smile. In fact, we also provide traditional braces that can straighten out crooked grins! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (510)-796-8888.