Braces 101
Eating with Braces
Yes, food selection is important, especially when your teeth may be sore, to avoid broken appliances and to avoid decay or decalcification of your teeth. For the first day or so, following getting your braces on or after an adjustment visit, stick to soft foods. However, you’ll need to pay attention to what you eat to protect your orthodontic appliances for as long as you’re wearing braces.
Avoid
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice, tough meats
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy, raw vegetables
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
- Foods and beverages high in sugar content (unless you can brush immediately): carbonated sodas, cake, pie
- Chewing on hard things (for example; pens, pencils, or fingernails): can damage braces causing them to become loose or detached. Damaged braces will prolong your length of treatment.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on or after an adjustment visit, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. To relieve discomfort you may take any pain-reliever normally taken for a headache. Lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks until they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
Loosening of Teeth
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal for teeth to feel loose or mobile. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new corrected positions after appliances have been removed.
Loose, Broken, or Lost Appliance
Don't be alarmed if a wire or appliance comes loose or broken. This happens occasionally. Please refer to the Emergency Care section for specific directions and some remedies may also be viewed on the Oral Care Video. Please call our office as soon as possible to determine if the appliance needs to be repaired or replaced before your next appointment. If anything becomes detached, save it and bring it with you to the office.
Care of Appliances
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed and minimize those activities that cause brackets or bands to become loose. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time. See our Instructions section for care and use of your appliances.
Brushing
It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Braces tend to trap and retain food and plaque which may result in tooth decay or decalcification (white spots) on the enamel surface. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should be monitored by their dentist or periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
Athletics
If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are fractured or loosened or the appliances damaged, call us at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.