After The Braces Are Off

teeth-after-braces

Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi

A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.

Now that your braces are off, you’re ready to celebrate: you get to eat the foods you missed, it’s easier to brush, and most of all, you get to show off a megawatt smile to everyone who congratulates you for completing treatment.

But there are a few things that you need to know about caring for your teeth after braces.

For the most part, they’re the same things that you need to do for your teeth before and during braces, which is why our blog features tips about general dental care and health, in addition to information about orthodontic treatment. But there are some things specific to those who just had their braces removed.

Some Instructions For Post-Braces Patients:

  1. Schedule an appointment with your dentist. Now that your teeth are aligned and clear of brackets, your dentist can do a more thorough examination and cleaning. If you had crowded teeth before, this may be the most thorough check-up and cleaning you ever had!
  2. Take special care of your gums. Sometimes, during braces, gums are neglected since flossing takes longer. Put in some extra effort to get your periodontal health on track by flossing once a day, and even massaging your gums if they feel tender.
  3. Take care of your retainer! Your retainer is your new best friend. We see patients all the time who need a second round of treatment, because they neglected their retainer the first time. You put in the effort, so make sure that you keep the dazzling effects for your lifetime!
  4. Give your teeth time. Your mouth may feel strange for a few days. Some people report that their teeth even feel loose. Just go easy on your teeth for a few days.

Celebrate!

To really celebrate, take some fun “after” pictures showing off your new smile to the world. You may even want to think about some teeth whitening to make the most of your beautiful, straight teeth.

From our practice, congratulations on finishing treatment! We’re so grateful that you chose us to see you through this process, and we’re so excited about your amazing new smile.

Get Teeth Tips

7 responses to “After The Braces Are Off”

  1. Abigail says:

    I have a question i am getting my braces off in 2 weeks. I am so scared that i might’ve not brushed my teeth really good or good enough. I am scared that my teeth are going to be yellow when i get them taken off. Also that my dentist is going to change their mind on about getting my braces off. Every time i am done eating i brush them and i have this little thing that is really helpful i forgot what it is called but, i put toothpaste on it then i go around my brackets after i brush and floss and it is still a little yellow. I take care of them a ton but, i don’t know if i really am. Do you know if i am or not i am very curious .

    • Ellie says:

      I got my braces off yesterday and i have zero marks!!

      i have major depression so i rarely brushed my teeth. As long as you didnt use whitening toothpaste you should be safe

  2. Karan Sembi says:

    Hi, my braces were removed as of October 2019, and since then, my front teeth have been quite loose, which is affecting my eating and my retainer fit. This is getting quite worrying since my teeth are converting into an overbite, and I’ve run out of ideas, as I can’t go to the orthodontist due to coronavirus. I would like to be able to chew with my front teeth without any looseness or wobbling. What do I do?

    • Melasha Hill says:

      I have the same issue but yours seems longer than mines! I got my braces removed January 2020, and my front teeth are loose as well. Not extremely loose but using my index and thumb, I can tell they move.

  3. Nhix says:

    Please help me. I got my braces off but i feel loosing it. I can’t go to the dentist cause of Covid. ?

  4. Davina says:

    Hi i just got my braces removed today aka 17/06/20 and the feel weird is it normal and im getting retaainers tommow and a follow up

  5. Gina says:

    Is the same retainer used till you die or how often is it changed?

Leave a Reply