about braces

Summer is over and now we are getting back into the swing of things for the Fall. Sports, School, upcoming holidays etc are quickly approaching and are all on the forefront of our minds and schedules! But, don't forget about your teeth! Make sure you fit time in to schedule you or your child's orthodontic exam/consultation (ideally starting at age 7 and up) and orthodontic adjustments if you are in braces/aligners already before your schedule of Fall activities gets filled up!

It's been a busy Spring for us here at the office! We have had some great theme days to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, the Kentucky Derby and even threw in a pajama day! Below is a picture of our Kentucky Derby Day with Dr. Hughes, Jen and our new team member, Mia. We recently hired Mia as a new Scheduling Coordinator to help at the front desk a few afternoons a week. Next time you are at the office, please say "hi" to Mia.  She grew up here in Natick and in her spare time is taking college classes.

Back to school is here! After a fun summer, it is time to get back into our routines. For some of our patients, they will be returning to school for the first time with braces! No need to be worried; these days, it seems braces are pretty much a ‘rite of passage’, so you’ll fit right in. However, we do have some tips to make sure the transition is a smooth and comfortable one:

• Bring a ‘Braces Care Kit’. Pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, wax and lip balm to keep your teeth clean and stay comfortable.
• Make sure you pack braces friendly foods for lunches and snacks. Stay away from the chewy, sticky and hard foods. (After all, no one wants to sit through class with an uncomfortable broken bracket or poking wire).
• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated will help prevent the dry, cracked lips that sometimes come along with new braces.
• Always wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports (in gym class or on a team). Getting hit in the mouth hurts, especially when you have braces. Prevent injury and pain by wearing a mouth guard. (When in braces you need a mouth guard that is made to wear with braces. Pick one up at our office or at a sporting goods store).
• If you have a removable retainer or appliance always put it in the case at lunch. NEVER wrap it in a napkin – it can easily get thrown out. We see this happen all of the time.

One of the more frequently asked questions at the initial consultation is whether or not braces will hurt. Although every patient is different and has a different threshold for pain, there are some general guidelines as to what can be expected when it comes to braces and discomfort…
At your first appointment, (the ‘records’ appointment) an impression (mold) of your teeth will be taken. The impression is easy and painless. ‘Separating elastics’ will be placed at this appointment as well. The seperators create room between your molars for the metal bands to be placed at the following appointment. You may feel some pressure when the seperators are placed, but it is usually not painful until a few hours later when the teeth start to move.

At the next appointment the braces will be put on. The process of getting the braces put on is relatively painless. Although, the retractors used to hold back your cheeks are not the most comfortable things. The first step is to get the brackets glued to the teeth. Then, the wire is placed and ligature elastics are added to hold everything together. You may feel pressure after the braces are put on, but it really isn’t painful until a few hours later.
Three to four hours after the braces are put on you will start to feel uncomfortable. Braces work by creating inflammation around the roots of the teeth. The force placed on the tooth cuts off the blood flow to one side of the tooth creating a buildup of lactic acid (the same thing that creates a ‘Charlie horse’ or makes your muscles sore after exercise.) Over the next one to two days your body will dissolve the bone in the area where there is pressure which causes the tooth to move. Depending upon how much force was placed on the tooth the process may repeat itself. Once the force is used up the tooth will relax into the new position and any discomfort will subside. You can expect this process to occur every time your braces are tightened (about every five weeks).

As I mentioned, everyone’s pain tolerance is different. Some patients say they hardly feel a thing while others report severe pain (although this is uncommon). Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil and Tylenol can usually help through the first couple of days.

Just because it is Halloween doesn't mean you can't enjoy some tasty treats! Try out some of these yummy recipes!

https://mylifemysmile.org/recipes