Getting braces for the first time

Most people know a little about braces. They're those small brackets stuck onto your teeth to wear for a year and hopefully do its magic.

I recently had my braces removed after 19 months of wearing them, and it's safe to say that it does it magic really well. But for those who are about to wear them, what's it like?

The first appointment you get to have your braces fitted, it's going to feel a bit weird. First, they're going to have to clean your teeth real good. My dentist used a machine that sounded like a screw-driver to clean my teeth, but some others use a gel-like substance instead, and it tastes quite bitter.

Next, they'll need to put glue on your teeth to hold your braces together. It smells and tastes bitter. They'll then get the brackets to place on each and every teeth, then use a machine to harden the glue, connecting the brace brackets permanently (well, to an extent) to your teeth. They'll then place the wire and put elastics on each brace.

You may feel discomfort on your teeth as they put on your brackets and elastics (within the bracket), but it'll go away eventually.

Once your braces are fitted, your orthodontist may give you a simple guide to how you manage your braces.

Because your teeth are now being forced to move along as the line wire does, you may feel some discomfort or pain. This is usually bearable. For me, it wasn't really painful, but it was very annoying, much like how it feels when you itch. Your teeth have fibers that keep your teeth in a certain position. Your braces are trying to move those fibers, which are rigid and hard, which can lead to some pain. Eventually, those fibers will stay in the position your brace is, which occurs in a few months or longer.

And at least for 3 days (I'd recommend longer), DO NOT try to eat hard foods, because it will feel painful and it can break your brackets. The likelihood of you breaking a brace bracket is usually high at this stage, because the first wire is very thin and not strong. Breaking a brace bracket recklessly can prolong your brace treatment and your dentist may only be able to book appointments worth weeks away. The first time I broke my bracket, I had to wait 6 weeks for an available appointment!

I really do recommend brushing your teeth beyond just day and night. I suggest doing it briefly after every meal, because food can get stuck and if not brushed, can become plaque and even become callus, which is hard to brush away. Brushing with braces is quite different, and you'll need to ensure you brush that way so that your teeth, ALONGSIDE your brace brackets are clean.

Please do not do anything serious to your braces! This means removing the wire, removing the bracket or elastics. You might not be able to put them back to normal and waiting for an appointment to have them fixed will take long, which will once again, prolong your brace treatment.

If your brace bracket falls off, contact your orthodontist ASAP! Doing this sooner means you can book an appointment sooner to have them fitted on, reducing the chances of prolonging your brace treatment.

You may feel that nothing is happening with your teeth, but it is happening over a long period of time! I suggest taking photos of your teeth weekly or monthly to see the progress you make, because you don't always notice it.

I hoped this helped explain a little about first getting braces! If you're getting them soon or are wearing them, I wish you the best of luck in your treatment. :)