What Your Child Should Expect | Before & After Braces 2021
Before & after braces. Though having braces is a common experience for children and teens, many are nervous because they do not know what they should expect. Whether your child chooses traditional metal braces or clear Invisalign, the process still involves the same basic idea of slowly moving the teeth into proper alignment. Here are answers to many of the questions that your child might ask about the process of getting orthodontic braces. In this article, we’ll show you What your child should expect before and after braces. Let’s get cracking.
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Before & After Braces
Before…
How Are Braces Put On?
The exact procedure of getting braces will depend on the type of braces that your child gets. If they choose traditional braces, the orthodontist will first attach the brackets to the teeth with bonding glue. After the glue is dried, the archwire will be secured to the brackets with elastic rubber bands. The archwire is typically secured with tiny rubber bands, which can be colored in fun colors.
There may also be another set of rubber bands that adjust jaw position and biting movements through connections to the top and bottom teeth, but these are not always necessary. If the braces are Invisalign, then molds of your child’s mouth will be taken, and they will be provided with custom-made aligners, which must be worn for roughly 20 to 22 hours each day. Something a child may need reminding of.
Does It Hurt?
This is the most common concern that most children have about braces. Getting the braces put onto your child’s teeth is not a painful or unpleasant situation. Instead, the procedure will only last an hour or two, and it is pain-free. However, once the braces begin adjusting the teeth, your child might experience some soreness. Soft foods are a go-to remedy. Here are some more tips on how your child can manage the discomfort of dental-braces:
- Eat soft foods, such as soup, yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.
- Use over-the-counter pain medications, including ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Gargle with saltwater.
- Eat ice cream to keep any swelling down.
- Avoid any acidic drinks, such as soda or citrus juice.
- If the pain is extremely uncomfortable, an oral anesthetic can help to numb the mouth.
Will the Brackets Rub Against My Mouth?
It can take some time to get used to having braces. One of the most common complaints to an orthodontist by a child in the early process is that the brackets can rub against the interior of the mouth, causing sores on the inner cheeks. However, applying orthodontic wax to the dental-braces at first can give your mouth time to get used to them without any teeth or oral pain occurring.
What Can You Eat?
Eating foods change before and after braces. After your child starts to get used to their braces, they can begin enjoying most of their favorite foods again. Fruits, meats, grains, vegetables, and dairy can all be eaten while your child has braces on. However, certain foods should be avoided because they could break the wires of the braces or get stuck in the teeth and braces.
This includes sticky and gooey foods and hard and crunchy foods. Though treats such as caramel apples should probably be avoided, it is still possible to eat items such as corn on the cob, if you slice the kernels off of the cob instead of biting them off.
Do I Have to Take Special Care of My Braces?
It is slightly harder to clean teeth and gums while wearing braces. Because food can get stuck in them, your child will need to exercise more caution while brushing their teeth and flossing. A brush with soft bristles is recommended so that it can fit around the braces. Braces also tend to wear down a toothbrush faster, so you may need to replace toothbrushes more often while your child undergoes orthodontist treatment.
Read on for what to do after…
Before & After Braces
After …
What Happens at the Follow-Up Appointments?
After first getting braces put on, most patients see their orthodontist every four to six weeks. At these follow-up appointments, the progress of your child’s teeth will be checked and the archwires will be readjusted to continue the realignment. Many children look forward to these appointments because they can pick new colors for their rubber bands. Popular choices include red and green for Christmas or colors that match a school’s sports team.
What Does Having Braces Removed Feel Like?
There should be no pain or discomfort after the braces are removed by an orthodontist. At most, your child may feel some pressure on their teeth while the glue is being cleaned off their teeth. It should take about an hour for the braces to be removed and the teeth to be cleaned. Most patients report that it takes a bit of time getting used to how their mouth feels without braces again, but this quickly wears off. A happy child again no doubt.
How Important Is it to Wear a Retainer Afterwards?
After your child’s braces are removed, they will be fitted with a custom retainer. This retainer keeps teeth from moving back to their original position after the braces are off, so it is very important. Typically, your child will need to wear the retainer for about 12 months after they get their braces off, and then they can just wear it occasionally at night. However, each case is unique, so your child might end up wearing their retainer for a longer time period, it depends on the orthodontist. Before & after braces is now a thing you can talk to your child with.
Conclusion
If you are trying to find the right orthodontist for your child’s teeth in Nashville, look no further than Gluck Orthodontics. Dr. Joel Gluck and Dr. Jonathan Gluck lead a talented team that is known for their excellent customer service and orthodontics. They can take you through the before & after braces experience. Call us to schedule an appointment for the Gluck experience.
2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite A-200 Nashville, TN 37215
Tel: (615)-269-5903
What Your Child Should Expect | Before & After Braces 2020

Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.
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