If there’s one thing every orthodontics patient has in common, it’s that they all learn to adjust! Each patients goes through a lot to adjust to wearing braces, and they have to do it all over again once the braces come off.
Our patients sometimes express frustration with the treatment process, and who can blame them? Just when they get used to one change, they have to adjust to another one!
First, they adjust to wearing their braces, then they adjust to the way their smiles change. They adjust to new eating habits, to new oral hygiene habits, to the new way they look, and they adjust after each adjustment appointment… Good grief.
Of course, it all eventually comes to an end, and hopefully they’ve become more adaptable as a result (not a bad life lesson to go along with a new, even smile!).
Once the braces are off though, patients have to go through a final set of adjustments. The following are some of the things you’ll have to adjust to once your braces come off:
Eating will feel weird.
Remember how weird and uncomfortable eating felt when you first got your braces? Well, it’s going to feel weird and uncomfortable eating without them once they’re gone, too! You’ll be able to do all the things you weren't able to during treatment again, like biting into an apple, or eating corn on the cob.
You’ll be able to chew treats like gum, candy, eat toffee and peanut brittle again, and eat a salad without half of it remaining on your teeth afterwards (the novelty!). And your mouth will generally just feel strange as you eat, at first. But you'll enjoy that dietary freedom!
Calluses
The calluses that formed on the insides of your lips as a result of constant friction with braces over the months of years of treatment will still be there, at first, when your braces come off. They won’t stick around for long, but they'll feel a bit weird until they disappear.
Brushing & Flossing
Your oral hygiene routine just got faster! While a thorough oral hygiene routine is always important, you'll no longer have to spend ages cleaning out all the nooks and crannies of your braces, and can just brush and floss like normal.
Discolouration
Orthodontics patients sometimes find that their teeth have developed some discolouration during treatment, in the places that the brackets weren't attached. Many patients undergo a course of teeth whitening treatment to brighten their smiles back up once their braces have come off.
More Appointments with your orthodontist… and another orthodontic appliance.
That’s right, you’re not getting off that easily! After your braces come off, you’ll have to attend a few follow up appointments with us so that we can make sure that your retainer fits properly, and is doing its job.
And on that note, just because your braces are off, doesn't mean your treatment is completely finished; you’ll be prescribed a retainer to keep your teeth in their new positions. And on THAT note…
Settling
Your teeth won’t have anything to hold them in place anymore once your braces are gone, and so you’ll have to wear your retainer full time until they settle into their new positions. After that, you’ll still need to wear it periodically (usually just at night) for the rest of your life.
Straight teeth!
The day your braces come off is an exciting one. You’ll finally be able to see how beautiful and even your new smile is! It’s a big change that will have an impact on the appearance of your whole face. You’ve worked hard for this, and we’re so happy for you. Congratulations!