Orthodontic nightmares are pretty uncommon and can typically be avoided. But here, below, are some things you should try to avoid.

Initial Pain and Discomfort

When you first get braces, depending on the type you get, sometimes the mouth gets irritated with tiny abrasions. And this can be really uncomfortable.

There’s an easy way to avoid this problem. If something is hurting you, then talk to your orthodontist or his or her staff. There is a special type of wax available that you can put over anything in your mouth that feels sharp.

Over time you will get used to the appliances in your mouth, and you won’t even notice them. However, it’s easy for the mouth to get irritated in the beginning. Don’t suffer in silence.

Also, before you get braces, you may wear something in your mouth to space out your teeth a little. If your teeth are very crowded, this, too, can be painful. The answer is to talk to your orthodontist and staff. Over-the-counter pain relievers can take away that discomfort, and you should not walk around miserable.

Bad Habits and Travel

There are lots of things that we recommend you do not do—like chewing on ice or eating hard crunchy things—because they can damage your braces. There are also many things that we recommend like flossing.

If you get off the straight and narrow and break something in your mouth while you’re at home, then that is usually an easy fix. However, if you pick up bad habits while traveling, you can break something and be far away from any kind of dentist much less an orthodontist. 

So, if you are away from home try to practice good habits with what you eat and how you take care of your teeth. And save yourself a headache.

Pain

The only other orthodontic “nightmare” we can think of is pain. We don’t want you to suffer in silence. Getting braces is not a painful ordeal. So, if you are in pain, tell your orthodontist or call the office because we can help.

Conclusion

We want our patients to feel good about their braces, and we will make every effort to make your orthodontic care as pleasant as possible. We practice kindness and compassion with our patients.

The Hicks orthodontic practice has been around for over 40 years, with Bryan Hicks taking over for his father. Dr. Hicks works hard to give his patients extraordinary outcomes from their orthodontic treatment.

If you have any questions about this article or need to talk to someone in the office, give us a call at (604) 922-0111.