Braces

EATING WITH BRACES

For the first few days after you get your braces, you will want to stick to foods that are soft. Among others, we suggest oatmeal, bananas, soup, pasta, cooked vegetables, smoothies and scrambled eggs.

FOODS TO AVOID

To minimize the likelihood of loose brackets and bent wires, please avoid these types of foods while wearing braces:

Sticky: Caramel, Tootsie Rolls, taffy, crunchy granola bars

Hard: Chewing on ice, biting into raw vegetables and apples, hard nuts. We encourage you to eat your fruits and vegetables; you just need to slice them!

Crunchy: Popcorn, chips, hard tacos

Tough: Corn on the cob, ribs, beef jerky

GENERAL SORENESS

Most patients experience some discomfort for the first three to seven days after their braces are put on. To help alleviate the soreness, you may rinse your mouth with a salt water solution and take an over-the-counter analgesic, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Chewing sugarless chewing gum for the first few days also helps minimize the discomfort. In addition, you may use dental wax (available at our office or your local drugstore) to cover any problem areas if they are rubbing your mouth.

LOOSENING OF TEETH

As part of the process of moving your teeth into a more ideal position, you will notice some teeth will loosen. Loose teeth are a natural part of the process, and they will “harden up” again once they are settled into the new position.

LOOSE WIRE, BRACKET OR BAND

Sometimes a bracket can come loose or a wire may pop out of place. If it is a flexible wire, you may be able to push it back into place using tweezers. If not, you may use a pencil eraser or the back of a pen to push the end of the wire down. A small amount of dental wax may be placed over the area that is bothersome. Next, schedule an appointment to have the wire, bracket, or band repaired.

CARE OF APPLIANCES AND BRUSHING

With braces it is more important than ever to brush and floss your teeth to keep them clean and healthy. Consistent brushing and flossing as well as maintaining your regular professional cleaning appointments with your dentist will ensure that your gums and teeth remain healthy throughout treatment.