Dr. Martinez and his experienced team are proud to offer our patients exceptional orthodontic care and top-notch customer service. Whether you choose metal braces or ceramic braces, we want the time you spend improving your smile to be a pleasant and enjoyable time.
The best time to get your child screened to begin early treatment is age 7, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll get braces right away. Most get their braces anywhere from ages 11-15, and once they get them,they may have a few questions and/or concerns. It definitely takes time to get used to wearing braces, which is why we’re here to make the transition as seamless as possible. Here are a few tips to help make the adjustment easier, courtesy of Dr. Martinez.
Some Soreness is Normal
When we first put the braces on your teeth, you will likely feel some soreness, due to the pressure being applied to your teeth. Most patients report having the most soreness on the second and third day. By the fourth day, there should notice considerably less soreness as your or your child slowly become accustomed to wearing them. Because everyone is different, some people are only mildly irritated by the soreness they feel while others find it more significant. To help remedy any early discomfort, we recommend the following:
- Taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help alleviate the soreness and discomfort you feel as other common, over-the-counter pain medications can slow down tooth movement including Advil and Aspirin.
- For the first few days, it’s fine to alternate between Tylenol and Advil, as this double dose should provide you with a sufficient level of pain relief during this time. After this time frame passes, you should stop taking Advil and only take Tylenol as needed to maximize tooth movement.
*Important Note to Parents: Please be mindful of the maximum daily dosages for each medication you give your child according to his or her age and weight. Additionally, to avoid a dangerous overdose situation, DO NOT give your child both Advil and Motrin because they are both ibuprofen (with different brand names).
Dealing With Loose Appliances
The adhesive we use to bond braces to the teeth are temporary, since braces are not meant to be permanently attached to the teeth. Sometimes braces can loosen during the first day or two once they’re placed on the teeth. If this happens to you or your child, don’t worry! Just give us a call right away so we can have you come in so we can re-attach what came off.
By not eating hard, crunchy and gooey foods that can loosen your braces, you can avoid having to make special repair appointments with us.
How to Handle Sore Spots
Sometimes, sore spots develop on the inside of your cheeks due to irritating brackets or wires. If a sore spot develops, place some dental wax or gum over the irritating part of your braces. If the sore spot does not go away within two or three days, or it seems to be getting worse, give us a call so we can fix the problem.
Proper Brushing Is Key to Trouble-Free Treatment
It is very important that you use the brushing tools we gave you to keep your teeth clean. You should be thoroughly brushing your teeth after meals and before bedtime. The nighttime brushing is the most important, as it’s essential that your teeth and gums are very clean overnight.
Gum Chewing is OK
We give our patients wearing braces the “green light” to chew gum as long as the gum is sugarless and sweetened with Xylitol. This is a sweetener that actually helps prevent cavities. So even if a bracket should come loose from chewing this gum, Dr. Martinez feels the benefits of this gum outweigh the downside. You can purchase Xylitol-sweetened gum at most grocery and convenience stores.
Contact Your Cincinnati, OH Orthodontist Today
If at any time you have questions or concerns about your treatment or appliances, please don’t hesitate to contact us during normal business hours. Give our Cincinnati office a call at (513) 598-9800 and one of our dedicated staff members would be happy to assist you. We want you to have a trouble-free, pleasant experience while you’re improving your smile! Just remember that soon you will have an amazing, straight and healthy smile you can proudly wear for the rest of your life!