Things You'll Need:
- floss threader
- waterpik
- otc pain medication
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Step 1
The biggest concern you may have could be if there will be any pain. Your dentist is prepared for this day. He or She will refrain from tight or adjusting your braces weeks before you get your braces off. To remove the braces your dentist will use a tool to break the bond between the bracket and your tooth. There should be little to no pain involved. After the bracket is removed, the dentist will polish the remaining bonding residue from your teeth. If you have a low tolerance for pain you may want to take an over the counter pain reliever before your visit.
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Step 2
Get Ready to Eat!One of the biggest joys of getting your braces off is probably being able to eat what you want. While wearing braces you may have been restricted from eating apples, carrots or other hard foods so that you didn't break a bracket. Also you were probably discouraged from eating sticky foods like caramel, gummy bears or raisins. This food can stick to your brackets and cause tooth decay if not cleaned thoroughly. After getting your braces off you are usually allowed to eat whatever you want. However some retainers may still have some eating restrictions
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Step 3
Bonded RetainerA bonded retainer may be put in placed after getting your braces off. This type of retainer is permanently placed, usually, on the back of the bottom front teeth. Retainers are used to keep the alignment of the teeth in place and are worn for months to even years. Eating certain items with the bonded retainer may be restricted for the same reasons they were while wearing your braces.
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Step 4
Floss ThreaderIf you do get a bonded retainer you may find that flossing is not so easy. There are some tools that can help. By using a floss threader you are able to get the thread under the wire and between the teeth. You may also find that using a waterpik can help remove food particles.
