Having braces put on can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. Once you get your braces, you may notice that your lips seem to sink into your mouth and disappear. This can happen because having braces pushes your teeth inward, which then allows your lips to follow. It’s a normal side effect of getting braces that most people experience. Here’s a quick look at why your lips may look like they’re going inside your mouth after getting braces and what you can do about it.
Why Do Lips Go Inside With Braces?
There are a few reasons why your lips may appear to go inside your mouth after getting braces:
- Your teeth are being pushed inward – Braces work by applying steady pressure to slowly move your teeth into proper alignment. This inward pressure causes your teeth to be pushed back towards your tongue and the inside of your mouth. As your teeth shift backward, your lips follow.
- Oral swelling – When you first get braces, it is normal for your gums and oral tissues to become irritated and swollen from the braces rubbing and applying pressure. This swelling can cause your lips to puff out slightly less, making them appear to sink in.
- The braces themselves – The brackets, wires, and elastic bands take up room in your mouth. This new hardware can physically push your lips inward.
- You stop protruding your lips – Some people unconsciously stick their lips out to hide their teeth before braces. After getting braces, they may stop protruding their lips, revealing how far in they really are.
In most cases, the “shrinking” lip look after getting braces is just an illusion created by your teeth moving back. Your lips are likely still the same overall size and shape.
Does the Inward Lip Look Go Away?
In many cases, the appearance of lips going inside the mouth after getting braces is temporary. Here are some reasons it may go away:
- Swelling goes down – As the irritation and inflammation from new braces subsides, oral swelling dissipates. This allows your lips to return to their normal position.
- Teeth adjust to new position – Within a few weeks, your teeth will settle into their new inward alignment. As they calibrate, your lips can relax and adjust as well.
- You get used to braces – Over time, you’ll get accustomed to the feel and presence of braces in your mouth. You may start unconsciously protruding your lips again.
However, in some cases, the inward lip look may persist long-term if your treatment plan involves significant retraction or backwards movement of your front teeth. Extensive retraction can leave your lips permanently tucked farther back in your mouth. But for most standard braces cases, your lips should regain a normal appearance once your teeth have stabilized in their new position.
What to Do About Inward Lips with Braces
Here are some tips for dealing with the appearance of lips going inside the mouth with braces:
- Wait it out – Be patient through the first few weeks as your mouth adjusts to the braces. Any swelling or inflammation should resolve, allowing your lips to relax.
- Practice good oral hygiene – Keep your teeth and braces extremely clean. This will help minimize irritation and puffiness.
- Use lip balm – Keep your lips moisturized to prevent dryness and cracking as they get pushed against your braces.
- Try smiling techniques – Pursuing your lips outward while smiling can help counteract their tendency to sink in. Practice smiling in the mirror.
- Consider lip injections – Injectable fillers like Juvederm or Restylane can increase lip fullness. But this is an expensive, temporary option.
- Get used to your new smile – Focus on the boost braces give your teeth, not your lips. Most people won’t notice your lips look different.
With time, your lips should adjust to your braces. And keep your eye on the prize – a beautiful new smile! Any temporary lip changes will be well worth it in the end.
How Long Does the Inward Lip Look Last?
It’s different for everyone, but here are some general timelines for how long lips may appear to be inside the mouth after getting braces:
- 1-2 weeks – Swelling subsides
- 2-4 weeks – Teeth begin adjusting to new position
- 1-3 months – Lips regain normal fullness as you get used to braces
- Longer term – May last for full braces treatment in cases of significant front teeth retraction
Be patient for the first few months as your lips and teeth adapt to braces. If your lips still seem excessively tucked in after 3-6 months, talk to your orthodontist. They may be able to adjust your treatment plan or recommend options to improve lip protrusion.
Tips for Dealing with the Inward Lip Look from Braces
Here are some helpful tips for making the most of your smile while your lips adjust to your new braces:
- Use lipstick and gloss to plump lips outward
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and reduce oral swelling
- Apply moisturizer and lip balm frequently
- Consider using lip plumper products temporarily
- Practice smiling techniques to purse lips forward
- Get lip injections if the inward look bothers you significantly
- Focus on the straightening of your teeth, not just your lips
- Remember that it’s a temporary phase that will improve
Stay positive and proactive during braces treatment and you’ll have a gorgeous, straight smile in no time!
Do Braces Ruin Your Lips?
No, braces do not ruin your lips. While braces may cause your lips to appear smaller or thinner temporarily, they will not cause permanent damage or ruin the shape or structure of your lips. Here’s why:
- Braces push teeth inward, lips follow – This creates the illusion of lips receding, but they resume normal position once teeth have settled.
- Any chapping or dryness resolves – Increased hydration and lip balm helps lips adjust to braces.
- Lips retain natural plumpness – Braces only affect lip position, not the underlying fat and tissues that give lips their shape.
- You learn to adjust oral posture – After adjusting to braces, you can purse and hold your lips properly again.
- No lasting change to lip anatomy – Braces may impact lip look temporarily, but don’t alter their anatomy long-term.
So while braces may cause some temporary lip changes or discomfort, they will not have any lasting effects or ruin your lips. With proper care, your lips will bounce back just fine after your braces come off!
Can Braces Change Lip Shape?
Braces themselves do not change the shape of your lips. However, there are a few indirect ways that getting braces can impact your lip shape:
- Teeth moving back makes lips appear thinner and smaller.
- Swelling from braces can temporarily enlarge lips.
- Lips can dry out and crack more easily.
- You may purse lips differently to avoid braces.
- Extensive tooth retraction narrows the arch your lips wrap around.
These effects are reversible once braces come off and teeth stabilize. The one exception is significant front tooth retraction over time can leave lips resting against a narrower dental arch.
But in general, braces may alter lip position and fullness temporarily but do not permanently change their fundamental shape or structure. With proper oral hygiene and care, your lips should go back to normal.
Can Braces Make Your Lips Smaller?
Braces can sometimes make your lips appear smaller for the following reasons:
- Teeth move back into the jaw, taking lips with them
- Swelling goes down as your mouth adjusts to braces
- Lips dry out and lose plumpness
- Your lips follow a narrower arch if teeth are retracted
- You stop protruding lips to hide braces
In most cases, this inward-lip effect is temporary. Once braces come off, your lips should return to close to their original size and projection.
Extensive front tooth retraction over a long period can leave lips resting against a permanently narrower arch. This can give the appearance of slightly thinner lips. But significant lip shrinkage just from braces is uncommon.
With proper oral hygiene and moisturizing, you can prevent your lips from becoming overly dried out or diminished in size during orthodontic treatment. Focus on the boost braces give your smile, not small lip changes!
Do Braces Make Your Lips Thinner?
Braces themselves do not actually make your lips thinner – they contain the same amount of fatty tissue and remain the same overall size. However, there are some factors that can give the illusion of thinner lips after getting braces:
- Teeth and lips moving backward into the mouth
- Swelling going down as your mouth adjusts
- Dehydration and chapping of lips
- Less tendency to purse or pout lips out
- Appearance of lips wrapping a narrower dental arch if teeth retracted
These effects are temporary in most cases. Once your braces come off and your teeth are close to their final position, your lips should return to near their original thickness and projection.
However, significant long-term retraction of the front teeth over time can leave your lips framed by a slightly narrower arch. This may give the permanent appearance of marginally thinner lips. But for most people, braces do not drastically reduce lip thickness.
With proper care, your lips can avoid becoming dried out or damaged. And any thinning look should resolve once your braces treatment is complete!
Will My Lips Go Back to Normal After Braces?
In most cases, yes – your lips should go back to normal after your braces come off! Here’s why:
- Teeth shift back into proper position after braces removed
- Swelling and inflammation fully resolves
- Lips rehydrate and regain plumpness
- You resume normal lip pursing and positioning
- Lip thickness and structure remains unchanged
Once your teeth have stabilized in their new corrected alignment after braces, your lips no longer have to compensate by pulling inward. You should be able to purse and project your lips normally again.
However, if your orthodontic treatment involved significant front tooth retraction, your lips may sit against a permanently narrower arch. This could give the long-term appearance of slightly thinner lips.
But for most people who undergo moderate realignment, their lips should go back to normal shape, size, and position after finishing braces treatment and giving their teeth time to settle. It may take a few weeks or months for your lips to fully adjust and recover.
Conclusion
Having your lips appear to sink into your mouth or become smaller after getting braces is a common temporary side effect. As your teeth shift backward and your mouth adjusts to braces, your lips follow their inward movement.
But in most cases, this change is reversible. Once your braces come off and your teeth stabilize in their new alignment, your lips should return to close to their original shape, size, and position. Proper oral hygiene and moisturizing while you have braces can help prevent excessive lip thinning and dryness.
While braces may alter lip appearance temporarily, they do not cause permanent damage or ruin your lips. Be patient, focus on achieving a beautiful new smile, and your lips will resume their normal lovely shape once your braces journey is over!