Six Month Smiles Survival Guide – How Your Mouth Feels with Your New Brace
My mouth feels odd! What do I do?
When you’ve just had your Six Month Smiles braces fitted it can be an exciting but daunting time. Your teeth start to ache and everything feels different. Questions will arise with the new sensations that your teeth and mouth feel.
“Is this normal? What do I do?”
Here are common things you may experience and some pointers that will help you through your first few weeks with your new brace.
Welcome to the Six Months Smiles Survival Guide!
Your mouth will feel different
Stating the obvious, maybe.
But it’s true. Your teeth now have orthodontic brackets and wires attached and this will feel strange not only to your teeth but also to your tongue, cheeks and lips.
Imagine a man suddenly having high heels glued to his feet. Difficult (or funny) for a week but then he’ll get used to walking in them.
Your teeth may feel wobbly
Again, normal.
This is nothing to be worried about.
Your Six Month Smiles brace moves your teeth through asserting constant light pressure. This pressure causes the bone around your teeth to soften so your teeth can move.
After the 6 month braces come off the wobbly sensation will stop as the bone hardens again.
You may get mouth ulcers
The new bits and pieces in your mouth can take some getting used to. There are corners and edges that have appeared and your tongue will love to find them.
These can cause some rubbing on your cheek, lips and tongue until your mouth accepts your brace.
Before you leave the dental surgery always check the wires aren’t sticking out too far at the back. If they feel too sharp then tell your dentist to trim them.
If you find a part of your brace has caused an ulcer then place the wax over that area to stop it rubbing.
Ulcers take 2 weeks to heal and you just have to wait I’m afraid.
You do not need to go to your dentist if you have one. You can buy ulcer relief from the pharmacist which will make it more comfortable.
I recommend Igloo to place over them or just a salt water rinse.
Your teeth may feel achy
The light pressure that the brace applies can cause some general aching. This is not the same as ‘proper’ toothache, don’t worry.
It will be most prominent immediately after your brace is fitted and after your wires are changed. This is simply due to a change in the pushing forces.
Eat soft foods and alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen for a few days. This will take the edge off.
And think of it as no pain, no gain my friends.
Bodybuilders don’t build muscle without aching and beautiful tattoos don’t just appear without needles.
It’s always worth it in the end.
Your braces may break
Do not panic!
This is likely to happen a few times and is part and parcel of the process. Orthodontic brackets can debond and wires can come loose.
Breaking braces are annoying but it won’t affect your treatment as long as you get seen by your Bournemouth dentist quickly.
Call Smile Stories ASAP and I’m sure they’ll get you in as quick as they can.
AUTHOR
Dr. Gareth Edwards BDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) qualified as a dentist with honours. Now practising in the Bournemouth & Poole area, he has a keen interest in orthodontics. He is a certified Invisalign provider.
