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 during your 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, bubble gum
Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
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 taking your usual dose of pain reliever (Aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin) as well as chewing sugar-free gum.
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. Wax can be put on the brackets to help lessen the irritation . We include wax in your starter kit.
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 braces.
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 over the broken wire to relieve the pain. If these suggestions don’t work for you, please call the office to schedule an emergency appointment.
Taking Care of Your Braces
Broken braces can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care them. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the brackets/bands, rubber bands, retainers, 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 braces. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.
Should you be hit in the face or mouth, be sure to check your mouth, braces, or appliance for any damage. If you notice any loose teeth or damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
