Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them?
To ensure your smile stays healthy and your treatment stays on track, it’s important to know how to properly care for your braces during treatment.
Eating with braces
Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and potato chips again in no time! But during treatment, 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, chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
- 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
You may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore when you first get your braces. This is perfectly normal and we promise it will go away. Saltwater rinses are a great way to relieve discomfort. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water, then swish and gargle. If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever.
Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for the first week as they toughen and become used to the braces. We will provide you with wax that can be used in the areas that are causing the most irritation.
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 correct position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer feel 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 irritating 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.
Follow your treatment plan
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. Failing to do so can extend your treatment time.
Playing sports with braces
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 appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.
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.