Are you a parent with braces? While you may struggle at first to adjust to your new look, you’re well on your way toward a beautiful smile. It won’t be too long before you see the results. But in the meantime, you’ll want to keep a few points in mind to make the experience better.
Here are six tips for parents who wear braces.
1. Eat Soft Foods at First
When you first have your braces, you’ll likely feel some discomfort in your mouth. It’s essential to cook specific meals so you can minimize how much pain you experience. Dishes with particularly crunchy or tough foods will cause issues with your braces — and your gums and teeth will hurt much worse.
Instead, you should try:
- Fruit smoothies
- Soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Pasta
Eat your new diet until you feel like you can work your way back up to your regular choices.
2. Avoid Certain Snacks and Drinks
Additionally, you should avoid certain snacks and drinks throughout the entire time you have braces. There are specific food items that can break or lodge in between your wires. Plus, sugary and starchy substances can increase plaque buildup on your gums.
While you don’t have to stay away from your favorite snacks and drinks forever, you’ll want to leave specific ones off your grocery list for a few months:
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Gum
- Chewy candy
- Lollipops
- Hard cookies
- Hard crackers
- Corn
- Bagels
- Raw fruits and vegetables
It’s also smart to cut specific food items into pieces, like apples, corn cobs and meat.
3. Remember Your Toothbrush
This point may be the most significant adjustment for adults with braces. After you get your braces, you’ll need to pay special attention to your oral health routine. It’s more important than ever to ensure you brush and floss your teeth after each meal.
Therefore, you should take a kit with you when you leave the house. This small bag should include a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. It’s a smart idea to bring wax, as well, so your braces don’t rub against your mouth. Keep the kit in your car so you have a way to brighten up your smile whenever you’re not at home.
Do you wear non-traditional braces like Invisalign? If so, you should learn how to clean your specific retainer properly. This way, you can prevent various mouth-related conditions that impact not only your teeth but your overall health, as well.
4. Wear a Mouthguard
If you’re a parent who participates in exercise classes, intramural sports or coaching activities, you’ll want to ask your orthodontist for a mouthguard that fits over your braces. Numerous injuries can happen when you’re physically active. Now that you have to be extra careful with your teeth, you should take precautions.
Whether or not your sport or activity involves contact, you can accidentally harm your mouth area. It’s more likely to happen in some cases, but you should still be careful either way. If you have a mouthguard, you can protect your braces and teeth in case you bump your mouth.
5. Don’t Lose Your Confidence
As an adult with braces, you may feel self-conscious about your new look. But you shouldn’t! Many parents don’t have the chance to get braces in their teens. If you’re on your way toward a smile that makes you feel more confident, you shouldn’t feel insecure about your braces.
Actually, you’ll be surprised how little people care about your braces. Though you might not like how they look, you can rest assured that everyone else doesn’t mind one bit. Don’t let your braces change how smiley and talkative you might already be.
6. Reach Out When You Have a Problem
Life can get hectic with kids. However, you shouldn’t use that as an excuse not to see your orthodontist when you have an issue with your braces. Don’t let your oral health take the back seat. If you ignore problems when they arise, you could experience complications.
Be sure to contact your orthodontist with any questions or concerns, even when they don’t seem too urgent. It’s essential to prioritize your oral health in general — but that’s especially true when you have braces. To ensure the braces do their job, you should communicate with your orthodontist whenever necessary.
Always keep your appointments, too. While you may have to cancel one or two when you’re busy, you should do your best to reschedule them sooner rather than later. These visits play a significant role in the progress you make with your braces.
Try These Tricks to Adjust to Your Braces Correctly
There’s no denying that braces are an adjustment, especially when you’re a busy parent. Fortunately, you can try a few tricks to ensure the process isn’t too tricky. It won’t be too long before your smile looks even better than before.
