If you’ve recently had your braces removed, or if this major milestone is coming up, don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate in a way that marks this accomplishment. Whether you have metal braces or Invisalign, saying goodbye to your orthodontic treatment is an achievement that is absolutely worth cheering for. Here are some suggestions to celebrate your freedom from braces.
1. Buy all the chewing gum.
The recommendation is still to stick with sugarless gum, so you aren’t bathing your teeth in sugar, but now is the time to dig into all the new flavors and brands that have come out since your orthodontic treatment began. Chew for hours if you want and make up for all the lost bubble-blowing time.
2. Pose for selfies.
Have you been trying to hide your teeth behind a flat or closed-mouth smile over the past year or two during your orthodontic treatment? Conceal your chompers no more. Reveal your gorgeous, aligned smile through social media selfies, photos sent to your best friends and family, or even a professional photo shoot for fresh, impressive head shots.
3. Eat your favorite foods.
Have you had to live with eating restrictions? If you wore conventional braces you understand this limitation. Now, you no longer need to worry about sticky, crunchy, or chewy foods. Chow down on popcorn, pizza, steak, apples, gummy worms, carrot sticks, corn on the cob, whatever foods make you happy that you’ve been missing for the length of your braces-wearing.
4. Write it out.
If you weren’t keeping a journal of your braces experience through the many months of your treatment, take a moment to type up a document that explains what you went through and what it was like to be an orthodontic patient. You may not want to relive the ups and downs right now, but later you will thank yourself for documenting this major journey and achievement.
5. Throw a party.
Maybe you’re one of those braces-wearers who has documented your entire journey on social media or sent regular updates to your nearest and dearest about the progress of your treatment. If you’ve been very vocal and public about your orthodontics, go big with a party to announce the end of all that effort and commitment. You could even make it dental-themed, with favor bags containing toothbrushes, floss, and sample-sized toothpaste.
6. Treat yourself.
Your end-of-braces celebration doesn’t have to be braces-themed. Splurge on a treat you’ve been wanting, enjoy a night out with friends, or take a mini-vacation. Simply do something that you wouldn’t or couldn’t do while wearing braces and enjoy your newfound freedom.
Are You a Good Candidate for Braces?
Whether you’re a teenager wearing conventional metal braces or an adult wearing clear braces or Invisalign, you deserve to celebrate the achievement of aligning your smile. It takes serious dedication and daily attention to detail to successfully straighten your teeth. Congratulate yourself, and spend hours admiring your new smile in the mirror. You’ve earned it.
Want to find out if you’re a good candidate for braces? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Soleil Roberts at Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville.