{"id":951,"date":"2024-12-13T23:52:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T23:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/?p=951"},"modified":"2025-01-03T23:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T23:55:14","slug":"done-with-braces-what-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/13\/done-with-braces-what-now\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ve Finally Been Liberated from My Braces! Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Braces<\/a> represent a huge investment of effort. Wearing these remarkably effective orthodontic appliances requires an elaborate daily hygiene regimen, frequent checkups and adjustments, and frustrating dietary restrictions, so having them removed can come with a sense of achievement and relief. Unfortunately, failing to comply with your post-treatment instructions will allow your teeth to drift back out of position, undoing all of your work. Here\u2019s how to ensure that your smile stays straight after you\u2019re done with braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Immediately After Your Braces Are Removed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can expect your teeth to feel differently immediately after your braces are taken off. Many patients report that the fronts of their teeth feel strangely slick at first, and it\u2019s not uncommon for patients to report mild dental sensitivity. After your appliance is removed, it\u2019s best to be careful when eating until you can do so comfortably and confidently. The calluses that formed on the insides of your lips and cheeks will also begin to fade shortly after the braces are removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Everything in Order: Wear Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After your braces are removed, your orthodontist will provide you with a customized oral device called a retainer. These appliances are designed to be worn over the teeth after orthodontic treatment, and they are necessary to ensure that the smile stays in its new alignment. Retainers come in two varieties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n