The Problems with Braces

Hello! This isn't a typical post from Daisy today... I'm Daisy's best friend, and seeing as she's on holiday and can't update, she decided to leave me in charge of doing a new blog post. I decided I'd do a post on something which she doesn't have experience with (luckily for her)... Braces! I've had braces for over a year now, and honestly, they are so stressful. However, if by the end of the procedure you're going to have perfectly straight teeth: then it's worth it! I have a few tricks and ideas that some Orthodontist's might not tell you.

If you have braces/are going to get braces, then there are a few things which you must know and do. Firstly, IT WILL BE PAINFUL. When they are put in for the first time or are tightened, that's when they are most irritating; the pain will subside after about five days. To keep your mouth and teeth in as much comfort as possible during those five days: drink a cold glass of water during and after every meal or whenever you eat; have a painkiller (follow the instructions for dosage) and try and stick to soft foods and don't snack. Other drinks help such as hot chocolate or warmed water mixed with salt (DO NOT DRINK THIS! Only swash it around your mouth for a minute). Foods I stuck to were soups, yogurts, ice cream and soft meats.

Another vital piece of information is to keep your teeth clean! If you don't, when your braces come off you will have white marks where the braces were. It is definitely not an attractive look. To avoid the stains stay away from eating sugary products and acidic drinks as much as you can. If I'm honest, this is a rule I haven't really stuck to... I regret not sticking to water and squash; if you wan't to have white teeth as well as straight teeth then keep away from Coke and Lemonade etc. Also, make sure you wash your teeth at least twice a day. Whenever you brush, use a Tee-Pee brush to get in between the brackets and the places which a toothbrush can't reach.You can buy Tee-Pee brushes anywhere, if you're in the UK, you can purchase them in stores like Tesco's or Superdrug.

What I stress most about with braces is making sure my brackets don't break! Brackets are the little square things which are attached to your teeth. Your Orthodontist will usually give you a maximum of three brackets to break before your braces are removed altogether... If I'm honest, I've broken more than that! So don't panic if you break a couple, but do try to keep the damage to a minimal. To avoid having your brackets fall off, avoid hard fruits like pears or apples and chewing gum (I have chewing gum all the time but just be careful). Don't brush ridiculously hard either, because, yes it may keep your teeth clean but also, it will weaken the glue between the teeth and bracket. 

Also, try and keep up to date with your appointments! They're roughly every three months and it's incredibly easy to forget when you're next appointment is. And last but not least, STOCK UP ON WAX. This is a complete must: if you don't want your cheeks to look like a tiger has ripped them apart, then keep wax with you wherever you go! Your Orthodontist should give you a packet and you can ask for some more whenever your appointments are. If the braces are rubbing onto the inside of your cheeks, roll a piece of wax into a ball and place it on top of the bracket which is creating the sore area. This wax is specially given to you from the Orthodontic's though, it's not from a random candle or anything so don't try and be clever and use candle wax.

With all of that said, you're ready to go.Good luck with the braces and just remember: by the end of it all, you're going to have completely straight teeth! If you feel like there's any tips I missed or need some extra advice feel free to comment below!