There’s nothing more exciting than getting your braces removed. By now, you’re likely ready to eat the foods you’ve been missing, floss your teeth with ease, and generally enjoy a metal-free smile for photos! Here are just a few other things that you can expect when you get your braces taken off.
The appointment is quick and easy.
The appointment to have your braces taken off typically only takes one hour! Using pliers, your orthodontist will simply pull off the brackets and clear away the remaining glue from your teeth. Once they finish making a mold for your retainer, you’ll be free to go!
It’s painless.
While having brackets removed with pliers looks pretty intimidating, it is actually quite painless. You’ll simply feel a bit of pressure on your teeth as each one is popped off.
However, you may experience some sensitivity.
Once your braces are removed, you may experience some slight sensitivity. Therefore, you’ll want to avoid doing any kind of whitening or bleaching treatment right off the bat. Though you may be tempted to immediately indulge in all those forbidden foods you couldn’t eat, wait a bit before diving into crunchy or chewy foods while the sensitivity settles down.
If you took great care of your teeth throughout your treatment, they should look great.
The first thing you’ll notice when your braces are removed is the almost-slimy feeling when you run your tongue over your teeth. The second will be how wonderful your teeth look! Ideally, your teeth will look perfect, especially now that they’re aligned. However, if you didn’t maintain a thorough dental hygiene routine, you may notice little white marks or “scars” on the surface of your teeth where your brackets once were. Thankfully, your saliva may naturally dull these stains. Otherwise, you may want to have a whitening treatment after enough time has passed.
You likely won’t be completely done with your treatment.
When aligning your teeth, braces are usually only half the battle. Once your teeth are in alignment, you may need to wear a retainer at night for the next few years—or even indefinitely—in order to prevent your teeth from moving out of place.
You may experience discomfort with your new retainer.
Removing your braces is a pain-free experience. However, once you put your retainer on, you may feel a bit of pressure. Your retainer is designed to keep your teeth in alignment, so it will correct any smaller shifts that may have occurred in your bite while you were waiting for your device.
You’ll want to schedule a teeth cleaning afterwards.
After multiple months of braces, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve missed a few spots while brushing or flossing your teeth. To get your teeth and gums back to good health, be sure to schedule a professional teeth cleaning with your dentist!
To ask any questions regarding your braces or to schedule your next appointment for teeth cleaning, call College Drive Dental Associates in Palos Heights today! Whether you’re considering braces or Invisalign in Palos Heights, IL, our team is here to assist you.