Advice for braces?

FinallyKrisB · June 2011

Oldest DD is getting her braces tomorrow and I have no idea what she will be going through. I never had them and neither did DH. What should I do to help her through the first few days.

We're already planning mashed potatoes with dinner and I've stocked up on ice cream and pudding.

almond1123 · June 2011

Advil and lots of wax so she doesn't scratch up the inside of her mouth. I used gobs of wax those first few days. When her ortho explains how to bend any wires that poke out with back of a spoon make sure she's paying attention or that you are. They pop up all the time and are easy to fix but can hurt if you don't since it always happens in a spot that's not used to it. I didn't have the need for soft foods long. The Advil helps a lot.

I can't think of anything else yet. Oh get her a waterpik if she doesn't already have one. Her dentist will thank you.

Kimmer123 · June 2011

almond1123:
Advil and lots of wax so she doesn't scratch up the inside of her mouth. I used gobs of wax those first few days. When her ortho explains how to bend any wires that poke out with back of a spoon make sure she's paying attention or that you are. They pop up all the time and are easy to fix but can hurt if you don't since it always happens in a spot that's not used to it. I didn't have the need for soft foods long. The Advil helps a lot.

I can't think of anything else yet. Oh get her a waterpik if she doesn't already have one. Her dentist will thank you.

This pretty much covered it. When I got my braces I didn't need soft foods for long either, but my mouth was sore. Nothing that Motrin or Advil couldn't fix though.

04JaxBride · June 2011

claire needed wax at first, but seems to have abandoned it (she's about a year into the braces). she also needed those little pointy-brush flosser things, but hasn['t asked for them in a while.

she is a "fastidious groomer" (the vet used this term to describe one of my cats, but i think it applies for her too...lol), so she has gotten good dental reports since having had them.

when she has her braces tightened, i try to have a soup/warm-non-chewy option available for her to eat since her mouth hurts sometimes.

NO starburst, skittles, or any of that sticky crap.

LisaK2b · June 2011

It might not be during the first couple of visits, but your DD would eventually learn how to tell if there's too much wires left in the back to be trim more. I started to stick my finger all the way to the back wire to see if it was sticking out at the end and had them trim until I didn't feel it anymore. If not, the back side of my mouth would be all cut up. The tightening of the teeth isn't extremely bad, but nothing that she has to bite into (like apples).

AmyDrinkie · June 2011

My mouth never hurt bad enough to eat only soft foods. I just popped a few Advil and was good to go.

Randa1976 · June 2011

I think the PP covered the basics. My only advice is to always have wax on hand. Once the sore spot starts it doesnt take long for it to get terribly raw.

Good luck to your DD, Jake should be getting his within the next year or so!

halfpintaggie · June 2011

I also never needed soft foods beyond the first day.

I only needed wax for a few weeks, then the inside of my mouth got used to the braces. Oragel is a God-send when those raw spots do come along.

Advice for braces?

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