Life with Braces
How do you care for your braces now that you have them on? Maintaining good oral hygiene is a need for the duration of your orthodontic treatment.
Eating with Braces On:
The popcorn and potato chips will be back in your life in no time! However, before you can start savoring some of your favorite delicacies, you’ll need to take extra precautions to keep your new gadgets safe.
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
- 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, fruit juice
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances
Your teeth and mouth may feel sore or uncomfortable at first after getting braces. This is normal and your mouth will be back to normal in no time! We propose dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water in order to alleviate the aches and discomfort. For just a few seconds, swish and gargle with this solution in your mouth (do not swallow the saltwater).
If the discomfort persists upon washing, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter medication. Braces may cause your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become inflamed for up to two weeks while your mouth adjusts to the wires and brackets, which can cause discomfort. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to alleviate the discomfort caused by your braces. Please let us know if you need any wax.
Loose Teeth
Don’t be alarmed if you notice that your teeth are becoming a bit loose. To move your teeth into the proper position, your braces must first loosen them. Your teeth will no longer be loose after they’ve been repositioned.
Disconnected Wiring & Bands
The brackets and wires on your braces may get dislodged. If anything occurs to your appliance, please call us right away so that we may inspect and fix it. Remember to keep and bring to the office any part of your appliance that comes loose.
Using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil, slowly and gently press the wire back into place, you may temporarily replace the loose wire. Place a piece of wax or a damp cotton ball over the broken wire to alleviate the discomfort caused by the loose wire. 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.
Braces and Sports Participation
We’ve got wonderful news for athletes: Game, Set, Match! If you’re having orthodontic treatment, you may still participate in sports! Wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth and the orthodontic appliance is suggested if you participate in sports. Let your doctor know if you need assistance locating the correct mouthguard for the greatest protection possible.
Make careful to inspect your mouth and dental appliance quickly in the event of a sports-related accident. Please call our office immediately if you discover any loose teeth or appliance damage. wax or saltwater rinses may be used to alleviate pain for short periods.
Using a Toothbrush and a Floss
To keep your teeth and gums healthy while wearing braces, brush, and floss after each meal. Please contact us if you need assistance selecting the correct toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss for your teeth and your orthodontic appliance.
Taking Care of Braces
Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush to clean your teeth for two minutes after every meal. For better brushing results, consider switching to a motorized toothbrush. With a 45-degree angle between the head of the toothbrush and the gum line, brush your teeth in tiny, gentle circular strokes on the exterior and interior surfaces. Brush your teeth in short, gentle back-and-forth strokes, paying particular attention to the chewing surfaces and the inside surfaces of your front teeth. Keep an eye out for the regions around your brackets and other appliances.
