Life With Braces: Tips for New Braces Wearers
At Utah Orthodontic Care, our mission is to make it easy, convenient, and affordable for our patients to achieve their dream smile. As a leading orthodontic provider in the greater Salt Lake City area, we offer high-quality orthodontic treatment from 8 locations, and we offer flexible financial options to make orthodontic treatment affordable for anyone. Our braces & Invisalign experts work hard to make the treatment process as convenient as possible for our patients, but even with the advances of modern orthodontics, getting used to life with braces still requires some adjustment.
What to Expect During Orthodontic Treatment
Starting orthodontic treatment is an exciting time, as you’re beginning on the path toward a new smile you’ll cherish for a lifetime. But life with braces takes some getting used to.
Adjusting to Life with Braces
Most patients experience discomfort at the beginning of treatment, especially within the first few days: it’s a sign that your teeth are responding to the pressure from the braces. Generally, the discomfort fades within a few days, so we advise over-the-counter painkillers to help manage it.
Foods to Avoid with Braces
You’ll also need to make changes to your daily routine.. One of the most important is your diet: while wearing braces, you’ll need to avoid any foods that are hard, crunchy, gooey, chewy, sticky, or high in sugar. Hard foods can cause the brackets to break away from the tooth structure, while sticky foods can get stuck in the archwire and damage your braces. Sugary foods contribute to bacterial growth and tooth decay, and because your teeth are at an increased risk of cavities during orthodontic treatment, it’s always best to avoid excess sugar.
Visit our Pinterest page for braces-friendly food options and recipes.
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene with Braces
You’ll also need to change your oral hygiene routine. You’ll need to brush your teeth at least 4 times per day, after each meal and before bed. Furthermore, flossing will require the use of a floss threader, which allows you to thread floss underneath the archwire. Flossing like this takes longer, but it’s absolutely vital to oral health and treatment success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Our Patients Say About Us
Our customers love our service! Here are some of their glowing reviews:
“This clinic is AWESOME! Everyone is so friendly and the doctor is great! I’m happy with my teeth and you really can’t beat the price! Great services and low pricing! I would recommend everyone to come here! Also they are always doing patient appreciation events that are so fun! Bring your kids, your spouse, your friends, your neighbors, BRING EVERYONE!”
“Great orthodontics! I got my braces at UOC and they’ve been so amazing! First appointment is free, they’ll evaluate your teeth and talk to you about braces option options and prices/ plans.My dental insurance did not cover braces for adults ( I chose not to when I made my plan ) and even if I switched my plan I don’t think it would be a nice affordable plan like UOC offered me with monthly payments … I’m happy with them! They were always nice, friendly and flexible with schedules! Recommend it 100%!”
“I love this office. The doctor is fun with the kids, very friendly and approachable. The staff is typically very easy to work with and any time we have any question or concern they have been quick to make it right with us. We had a billing hiccup and Lauren was incredibly understanding and made the process to fix it easy. As a lower income family with multiple kids needing orthodontic work, this has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I cannot recommend them enough.”
“This clinic is AWESOME! Everyone is so friendly and the doctor is great! I’m happy with my teeth and you really can’t beat the price! Great services and low pricing! I would recommend everyone to come here! Also they are always doing patient appreciation events that are so fun! Bring your kids, your spouse, your friends, your neighbors, BRING EVERYONE!”
“Great orthodontics! I got my braces at UOC and they’ve been so amazing! First appointment is free, they’ll evaluate your teeth and talk to you about braces option options and prices/ plans. My dental insurance did not cover braces for adults ( I chose not to when I made my plan ) and even if I switched my plan I don’t think it would be a nice affordable plan like UOC offered me with monthly payments … I’m happy with them! They were always nice, friendly and flexible with schedules! Recommend it 100%!”
“I love this office. The doctor is fun with the kids, very friendly and approachable. The staff is typically very easy to work with and any time we have any question or concern they have been quick to make it right with us. We had a billing hiccup and Lauren was incredibly understanding and made the process to fix it easy. As a lower income family with multiple kids needing orthodontic work, this has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I cannot recommend them enough.”
Contact Your Salt Lake City, UT Braces Provider
Braces take some getting used to, but at the end of the day, they’re an incredible tool that can help you achieve a new smile that lasts a lifetime. Contact us if you have more questions about what to expect when starting with braces, and don’t hesitate to request a free consultation online if you’d like to get started right away. We can’t wait to help you achieve your dream smile through orthodontic treatment!
