Learning to live with braces can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. The reality is, once you begin to see the progress take place, time will pass faster than you could imagine. Very soon it’s time to have your Las Vegas braces removed and you’ll be on your way through life with your new bright smile.
What can you eat when you have braces? Just about anything you ate before braces, with a few exceptions. For the first day or so, you’ll want to stick to softer foods. You’ll want to stay away from crunchy breads, tough meat or raw veggies that may hurt your sensitive teeth at this point. Once the initial soreness goes away, you can go back to more normal eating habits. You’ll still want to be careful not to eat things like sticky caramels that can get caught in the wires and take tons of time to remove. You’ll also want to be careful not to chew on pencils or fingernails, because any time you damage pieces of your braces you take the chance of extending the time you’ll need to wear them.
When you first have your Las Vegas braces installed, your teeth and gums might be sore for three to five days. You’ll find that rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water can help ease that pain. Just put about a teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and wash your mouth a few times a day. If you have a headache from the initial pain, taking your regular over the counter pain medication is generally recommended. As you get used to having the braces on your teeth, the pain will ease and you’ll be able to go on with your life pretty much as you did before your braces. Your mouth will eventually get used to having these foreign wires in it and before you know it, it will be time to take them out.
Don’t be frightened if a wire or band becomes detached. This happens sometimes. In the event that a wire pops out, give us a call or stop by our office and we’ll be happy to reattach it for you. In the meantime, put a cotton ball on the affected area to keep the wire from poking you and causing pain. Be sure to call our office right away to schedule a maintenance visit.
To effectively finish the treatment plan for your Las Vegas braces, the patient must cooperate with our dentists. Be sure to wear the elastic rubber bands, headgear, or different apparatuses as prescribed. It’s worth being a good patient throughout the process, because the quicker you adapt to the treatment plan, the sooner you get to see your new, straight smile.