Life with Braces

It's important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. Here are a few tips:

EATING WITH BRACES

During your orthodontic treatment, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your appliances.

• Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
• Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
• Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
• Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

• Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
• Bread — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
• Grains — pasta, soft-cooked rice
• Meats/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
• Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

SORENESS CAUSED BY BRACES AND APPLIANCES

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is normal and will subside soon! To relieve the pain, we recommend doing a saltwater rinse. 

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also take a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

LOOSE TEETH

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

LOOSE WIRES AND BANDS

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, save it and bring it to the office with you.

If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR APPLIANCES

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances our doctor prescribes.

PLAYING SPORTS WITH BRACES

If you play sports while wearing braces, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

In case of a sports-related emergency, immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please get in touch with our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.