You’ve invested in braces to straighten your teeth, and now you’re wondering how long you need to wear them. The answer depends on the type of braces you have, but the good news is that the sooner you start wearing them, the better your results will be in the end. As soon as your orthodontist gives you the green light to do so, though, here are some guidelines on when and how to take off your power chain braces.
In the first 24 hours
Immediately after surgery, it’s important to wear your power chain braces as much as possible to help with swelling and recovery. After 24 hours, you can take off your braces while showering or bathing, but you should still wear them regularly throughout most of the day. If your medical professional recommended wearing them full-time for longer than a day, that is also acceptable—just ask how long they think is best for you based on how long your procedure was and what type of device you received. Before getting out of bed at night, however, make sure to put your chains back on so that everything stays in place during sleep. (Don’t worry; it won’t be uncomfortable.)
Your body needs time to heal, so try not to do any strenuous activity within two weeks after your surgery. (That includes heavy lifting, running, etc.) By about two weeks post-op, you can start doing light exercise such as walking and cycling—but only if it doesn’t cause pain or discomfort. It’s also a good idea to keep using your brace even when exercising; if you don’t have one yet, talk with your doctor about ordering one specifically designed for physical activity. As far as eating goes: You may be able to eat normally right away (if not right after) but check with your doctor first just in case there are any restrictions he wants you to follow immediately post-surgery.
After 48 hours but before 72 hours
After two days of wearing power chain braces, it’s recommended that you take them off for at least eight hours. Then, it’s OK to put them back on for another 48 hours. This helps your body get used to having your teeth pulled together and will help decrease pressure and pain on your teeth, lips and tongue. If you’re able to sleep without discomfort or pain with your power chain braces on after two days, it’s probably safe to wear them throughout all of your waking hours.
But if they cause problems while you sleep—painful jaw cramps or waking up in a pool of drool, for example—you should take them off at night until things get easier again. You can also alternate between wearing your braces during the day and taking them off at night, but be sure to follow these guidelines so you don’t end up making any mistakes. And remember: Your mouth is healing from surgery; give it time to adjust!
After 5 days
You can’t just put power chain braces on and expect them to work miracles. To achieve lasting results, you must remember to wear your brace for at least one hour per day (the average person who uses braces has a 6-8 hour span when they wear their device). If you haven’t been wearing your brace as much as you should, it won’t do any good. Make sure that you wear your power chain braces for at least 1 week before you begin to take them off for an extended period of time. After a week of wearing your brace every day for an hour or more, start working into leaving it off longer.
Your improvement will slow down if you don’t continue to wear your brace consistently. Don’t let yourself get discouraged! Just keep moving forward with your routine. In order to achieve long-lasting results, you need to be patient and consistent.
You can remove your power chain braces after 1 week
Power chain braces are usually worn for 1-2 weeks after which they are removed to be washed and sterilized. At that point, a new pair is put on. However, some practitioners may opt to leave your braces on for a longer period of time after surgery. For example, if you’re scheduled for a rhinoplasty soon after your breast augmentation, it may be more convenient for you (and safe) to have both surgeries done at once under general anesthesia rather than spaced out over 2-3 months.
