If you have braces on your teeth, then you’ll know how painful it was to get them fitted in the first place.
Well, you might also be nervous about how long it takes to get them off too as well as how to take care of your teeth afterward.

Obviously, this will the part of the dentist to take your braces off, but it might give you peace of mind to know exactly how long they will take to actually remove them. You might also want to know if this procedure is painful or uncomfortable.
So how long exactly will it take to get your braces off? How can you maintain your teeth properly after you have put on braces? What items will you need to wear on your teeth after braces?
Well, if you want to know the answer to all of these questions, then we would suggest that you keep reading.
Why Get Braces?
There will be a few different reasons why you might get braces. The main one will be that your teeth have come out of alignment and you will need to straighten them again.
This is because lopsided teeth can cause you problems and pain in late life.
This will also fix issues with your smile, which is one of the main reasons why people feel self-conscious, as it is part of the body that a lot of people can see. Straight teeth will contribute to a warm and friendly smile. This might affect the way you bite, which will affect the alignment of your jaw.
How Long It Will Take To Remove Your Braces
The removal of your braces will often only take around an hour. This can usually be done in one appointment and shouldn’t require you to go back for another session.
Here we have a guide on exactly what is going to happen during the procedure of removing your braces step-by-step:
- Your dentist will separate the brackets from your teeth
The dentist will separate the brackets from your teeth by bending the wire until they are loosened and parted from the front of the teeth themselves. They will usually do this with a pair of pliers.
This will also weaken the glue that is holding your braces in place. The dentist will do this all across your braces, tackling the top, the back and the bottom. This part will not cause you any pain, you’ll just feel a little pressure on your teeth.
- Taking off the last of the glue
Once the brackets have been taken away, there will be some of the bonding left on your teeth. The dentist will get rid of this with an instrument that resembles a scraper. Taking off this bonding will usually take anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes.
The time it takes will all depend on how much bonding there is left on your teeth. If you have delicate teeth, then you might be sensitive to the pressure that is used during this time.
- Making a mold
Just because your retainer has been removed, that does not mean that the job is complete. You might have to wear a mold afterward that will keep your aligned teeth in place.
You might have to wear your mold for only a few months or you might have to wear it for the rest of your life. This will all depend on what your dentist decides and remember that each person has different needs.
You’ll need to have a mold cast on your new teeth. This can either be done at the end of the removal of your braces or during a follow-up visit.

How Can You Look After Your Teeth After You Have Had Your Braces Removed?
Once you have had your braces taken off, then you might notice that your gums are feeling slightly inflamed. This inflammation should go down after you have had a few days of flossing and brushing.
You’ll need to make sure that you maintain a daily oral hygiene routine, taking care to brush at least 2 times a day and flossing after every meal.
This is because teeth can get plaque and produce bacteria that will ultimately damage your enamel.
You should also refrain from eating hard food soon after you have had your braces removed. This is because these can also ruin the new alignment of your teeth and cause chips and cracks in your teeth.
Complication After Braces
There are a few complications that can arise after you have removed your braces. One of them is jaw problems and the other is gum recession. This will usually happen when the enamel on the teeth is worn back.
You might also suffer from TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint disorder) which might cause a clicking of the jaw and give you headaches. This might also result in difficulty in chewing, which might also be the source of a lot of pain.
You should make sure to ask your dentist about any of these issues, so you’ll know what to do when they arise.
What Happens If You Remove Your Own Braces?
If you are going to remove your own braces, then you might open yourself up to certain risks that you will be able to avoid if you visit a dentist. Here is a list of them:
- Lost teeth – if you are removing a portion of the brace that is still stuck to your teeth with glue and bonding, then you might actually pull a tooth out of your gum.
- Cavities – if you are using tools to get your braces out, then you might cause holes to develop in your teeth, which could gather bacteria and erode your teeth even further.
- Pain – you might suffer from a lot of pain if you decide to remove your brace by yourself. Having the correct orthodontic tools will help you avoid this pain.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the process of removing braces and how long you can expect the whole procedure to take.
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