Now that you have your braces, how do you maintain them? You need 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 potato chips 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, chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Some foods you CAN eat with braces:
- Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, yogurt
- Breads — soft tortillas, soft rolls, pancakes, muffins without nuts
- Grains — pasta, soft-cooked rice
- Meats/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
- Seafood — fish, crab cakes, shrimp
- Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
- Fruits — applesauce, bananas, grapes, kiwi, fruit juice
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, smoothies, soft cake, and brownies without nuts
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 perfectly normal, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve pain, you may consider taking an analgesic such as acetaminophen (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. We would be happy to provide you with wax that you can place over the braces to reduce tenderness. We also recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for approximately 2 minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).
Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin feeling slightly 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 for your appointment.
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, 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 appliance. Be sure to select a mouthguard that's appliance and braces-approved. If you need help finding the right mouthguard for your treatment and the best protection, please let us know.
In the event of a sports emergency, please 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 discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.