Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It's important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Eating with Braces

Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on Milk Duds again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to avoid with braces:

• Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
• Crunchy foods — popcorn, hard pizza crusts, ice
• Sticky foods — caramel candies, bubble gum, skittles
• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
• Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots (dont' worry you can still eat these but they need to be cut into small pieces)
• ICE- do note bite on ice! 
• Limit foods and drinks with high sugar content, especially juices and pop. Drinking at a meal occasionally can be okay. Sipping throughout the day is very damaging. 
• Other things to avoid:
  • Chewing pens/pencils
  • Biting on fingernails
  • Playing/picking at your braces

Foods you CAN eat with braces:

• Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
• Breads — 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, grapes
• Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
• Sugar-free gum- we are okay with gum so long that it is SUGAR FREE

Soreness Caused from 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 perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. Take similar to what you take for a headache: Ibuprofen, Motrin, Tylenol. 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. Use wax to help these tissues adjust.

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 contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. 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.

Take 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 prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliances. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection. Fortunately, there are many brands that make mouthgaurds specific for braces. 

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

Scheduling Appointments

When you keep your appointment schedule and arrive on time everybody wins. 

Please remember some longer appointments may need to be scheduled during school/work hours.  We try to keep these to a minimum. 

Late arrivals cannot always be seen. Because our schedule is carefully planned, we may not be able to see you if you are late, forcing us to reschedule your appointment. 

Give us plenty of notice if you cannot make your appointment.  We understand that circumstances sometimes arise that can necessitate a change in your schedule. Please allow us a 48-hour cancellation notice so that we can offer that time to another patient and re-book your appointment with as little disruption as possible.  Failed appointments without at least 24-hour notice will incur a charge.