Now that you have braces, it's important for you to know how to live with them everyday and take care of them properly 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 again, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to avoid:

• 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 to enjoy:

• 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

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 you it won't last forever! To relieve the discomfort, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes, then spit it out. Be careful not to swallow the saltwater! If the discomfort is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever.

It is also quite common for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one or two weeks as they toughen and become used to your braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over your braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need more wax, please let us know!

Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal too! Your braces must first loosen your teeth in order 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 occasionally 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.

You can temporarily fix a 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 or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the discomfort. If absolutely necessary for comfort, you can cut the wire with nail clippers and remove the piece causing trouble. Always advise our office the next business day so that we can repair any changes you've made.

Taking Care of your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment, so be sure to take care of all your appliances for as long as you need to wear them. 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 orthodontist and care for them properly.

Click here to read more about the proper care of your appliances

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match - we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance(s). Let your orthodontist know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection. Orthodontic mouths guards are available through our office; just ask us if you would like to invest in one.

In case of a sports injury, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance(s) for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose or broken teeth, please contact your general dentist. If an appliance has been damaged, please contact our office immediately for 'hurting' problems and next business day for 'non hurting' problems. You can temporarily relieve any discomfort with wax or by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.