General Soreness
When you first get your braces, you may feel soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days.  If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue will be a little irritated for one to two weeks as they grow accustomed to your braces.

Loosening of Teeth
To be expected throughout treatment. It's normal. your teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. They will again become rigidly fixed in their new, corrected positions.

Loose Wire or Band
Don't panic if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call for an appointment so we can fix it.  If a piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.

Care of Appliances
The best results are achieved, in the shortest amount of time, when the patient works together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed. Deviation from the prescription always lengthens the treatment time.

Brushing
It's important to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.

Athletics
If you you are involved in sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing contact sports.