After several months — or perhaps a few years — of wearing braces, you are likely more than ready to finish up your orthodontic treatment. Still, your mouth may feel strange once your brackets and wires are removed. What can you expect as you transition into life after braces in Needham? Here is a brief overview of what you might experience:
How Your Mouth Will Look and Feel
Once your braces are taken off, you might notice that your mouth does not look or feel like it did prior to your treatment. In many ways, that is very good — your teeth should be much straighter now! However, there might be a few things that you did not expect, including:
- Sensitivity. It is common for patients to experience a temporary increase in dental sensitivity after their braces are removed. This occurs because for many months, the teeth were under constant pressure. The sudden release of that pressure may make your mouth extra-sensitive to things like hot and cold foods and beverages.
- Discoloration. Your teeth may have some spots of uneven coloration, particularly where the brackets were bonded onto them. This can occur due to plaque and food particles accumulating around the orthodontic appliances. For most people, this discoloration fades naturally with time as they regularly brush and floss their teeth. If you want an extra boost of whitening, you might choose to undergo a professional bleaching treatment six months after the removal of your braces.
- Calluses. Braces patients often develop calluses on their soft oral tissues. When your braces are gone, the calluses may feel odd. You can expect them to disappear gradually over time.
Maintaining Your Results
Once your braces are off, you still have some work to do — you will have to maintain your results. To do so, you will need to wear a retainer in Needham. This small, custom appliance will hold your teeth in place, preventing them from drifting back into their former positions.
If you have a removable retainer, you will have to wear it for 20 – 22 hours each day during the months after your braces are removed. Eventually, though, you may need to wear it for just a few nights each week.
Talk to Your Dentist if You Have Questions
If you run into any questions or concerns as you adjust to life after braces, do not hesitate to ask your dental team for assistance. They are ready to provide expert guidance so you can fully benefit from your recently straightened smile.
Getting your braces off is a milestone worth celebrating! Hopefully, the guidance in this article will help you as you adjust to your new smile and all the things that come with it.
Meet the Practice
The large team of general dentists and specialists at Gillis Dental are proud to offer traditional braces as one of our many available treatments. If you are curious about what to expect with orthodontic care, we would be pleased to answer all of your questions. Contact us at 781-202-6357.