What to Expect When You Get Your Braces Off

When it’s finally time to schedule that appointment to remove your braces, you’ll likely hurry to put it on the calendar as soon as possible because your teeth will finally be free!

No matter if it took a matter of months or years for braces to align your teeth and jaw, revealing your brand new smile is an exciting day. But what can you expect during braces removal? What will your new smile look and feel like? What does your oral hygiene routine need now?

Getting your braces off can be quite a significant transition. So, in this month’s blog, our team, led by Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, at Hanachi Orthodontics in Mooresville, North Carolina, answers your burning questions and explains what to expect for this oral health milestone. 

Understanding the braces removal process

There’s not much you need to do to prepare for your braces to be taken off, although we recommend brushing your teeth right before your appointment. If you’re sensitive to dental work, consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, before your appointment. 

To start, Dr. Hanachi uses a special device to loosen the brackets on your teeth. After this, all of the hardware comes off in one piece. Once the hardware has been removed, our team thoroughly cleans your teeth, since debris tends to build up underneath, no matter how well you brushed and flossed with braces on. 

Next, Dr. Hanachi takes some X-rays to ensure your orthodontic treatment was effective. Overall, the entire process should take about one hour.

What happens next?

Part of your braces removal appointment includes taking impressions of your teeth to create a custom retainer. 

Although your teeth and jaw are now where they need to be, they need time to adjust to their new positions. To “retain” your new smile during this transition period, you’ll need to wear your removable retainer, only taking it out to eat and brush your teeth, for a few months.

Make sure that you keep track of your retainer when you remove it to eat and brush your teeth, ideally using a retainer case. It’s best to also rinse and gently cleanse your retainer whenever you brush your teeth to avoid food and debris buildup.

Even with a retainer, caring for your teeth should be much easier without all that bulky hardware. You don’t need to use the special brushes and flossers, though you should still brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day for optimal oral health.

You can also resume your normal dietary habits; however, it’s important to note that your teeth and gums might be sore for a week or two after getting the braces hardware removed. We recommend slowly introducing your favorite foods that you couldn’t have during your orthodontic treatment. 

Stay in touch with our team

Even after you’ve moved on to the retainer portion of your treatment, you’ll want to see us regularly to make sure that your teeth and jaw stay aligned. You can also reach out if your retainer becomes lost or broken. Replacing it quickly ensures your teeth don’t shift out of place.

You can always reach out with any questions by calling our office or using our online contact feature.