# How Do Braces Impact My Daily Life?
Braces are a popular orthodontic treatment used to correct misaligned teeth, improve bite and enhance the overall aesthetics of your smile. While braces can significantly improve your dental health and appearance, they also require some adjustments to your daily life. In this article, we'll explore how braces impact your daily life and what you can do to make the transition as smooth as possible.

### Eating with braces
One of the most significant adjustments you'll need to make when you get braces is to your diet. Hard, sticky, or chewy foods can damage your braces or get stuck in them, causing discomfort and potentially delaying your treatment. It's best to avoid foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candy, chewing gum, and sticky candy. Instead, opt for softer foods like soups, cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and soft fruits.


### Cleaning your braces
Keeping your braces clean is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene and ensuring that your treatment is progressing as planned. Braces can trap food particles and make it harder to clean your teeth properly, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. You'll need to brush your teeth after every meal and floss daily to remove any food debris and plaque buildup. Additionally, you may need to use special tools like interdental brushes or water flossers to reach areas that are difficult to clean.

### Speaking with braces
Braces can temporarily affect your speech and cause some difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. This is because your tongue and lips need to adjust to the new position of your teeth and the braces. However, most people get used to speaking with braces within a few days or weeks. If you're having trouble speaking clearly, practice reading aloud or speaking slowly to help you get used to the feel of the braces.

### Discomfort and pain
While braces are not typically painful, you may experience some discomfort or soreness after they're first installed, or after they're adjusted. This discomfort usually subsides within a few days, and you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate any pain or soreness.

### Sports and physical activities
If you're an athlete or engage in physical activities regularly, you may be concerned about how braces will impact your performance. While braces can cause some discomfort during physical activity, they won't significantly affect your ability to participate in sports or exercise. However, it's important to wear a mouthguard during contact sports to protect your teeth and braces from damage.

## Conclusion
While braces can require some adjustments to your daily life, they're a highly effective treatment for correcting misaligned teeth and improving your overall dental health. By making small changes to your diet and oral hygiene routine, you can help ensure that your treatment progresses smoothly, and your new smile is the best it can be with [Dental Braces, Fairfax, VA](https:/https://goo.gl/maps/re9XtvM6P8xMSreh7/).

Naturadent, P.C. / DON KANG, DMD.
9508A Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22031
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