Brushing and Flossing
Keeping Your Smile Healthy
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is crucial when you have braces. Regular brushing and flossing help ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy during your orthodontic treatment. Braces make it more challenging to clean your teeth, so you’ll need to adjust your habits to maintain a healthy smile. Neglecting oral hygiene can lead to more frequent visits to the dentist for professional cleanings. Additionally, adults with a history of gum disease should see a periodontist during their orthodontic treatment.Watch the videos below to learn the proper care techniques for your braces:
Eating with Braces
Adjusting Your Diet
One of the most common questions we get is, “What can I eat with braces?” Let’s break it down. For the first day or so after getting your braces adjusted, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy foods like cucumbers again, but it’s essential to protect your orthodontic appliances throughout your treatment.Foods to Avoid
Maintaining your braces requires some adjustments to your diet. Here’s a handy guide to help you remember which foods to avoid to keep your braces—and your treatment—on track:
- Say No to Chewy Treats: Bagels, hard rolls, and licorice are tough on braces and can cause wires to bend or brackets to pop off.
- Crunchy Culprits: Steer clear of popcorn and ice. They might seem harmless, but they can easily damage your braces.
- Sticky Treats: Avoid caramels and gum. These sticky foods can get lodged in your braces, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of cavities.
- Hard Hits: Nuts and hard candies are a no-go. Biting into these can break brackets and wires.
- Beware of Biting: Foods like corn on the cob, whole apples, and raw carrots need to be cut into bite-sized pieces before eating to prevent damage.
Beyond Food: Habits to Avoid
Chewing on non-food items like pens, pencils, or your fingernails can also harm your braces, leading to extended treatment times and additional appointments. Remember, taking care of your braces means avoiding more than just certain foods—it’s about making smart choices all day, every day.
General Soreness
What to Expect
When you first get your braces, you might experience general soreness in your mouth and tender teeth for 3-5 days. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol can help manage this discomfort. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also feel irritated for 1-2 weeks as they get used to the braces. Orthodontic wax, which we’ll provide, can help reduce this irritation.
Rubber Band Wear
Cooperation is Key
Successful orthodontic treatment requires teamwork between you and your orthodontist. Your teeth and jaws can only move toward their correct positions if you consistently wear your rubber bands or other appliances as prescribed. Not following instructions or damaging your appliances can prolong your treatment time, so please adhere to all guidelines.
Loose Wire or Band
Handling Minor Issues
If a wire or band comes loose, don’t panic—it happens occasionally. If a wire is causing irritation, use a blunt instrument, like the eraser end of a pencil, to gently push it back under the archwire. This should only be done if you can’t manage the discomfort with orthodontic wax alone. Place additional wax or a wet cotton ball on the wire to reduce irritation, and contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a repair.
Loosening of Teeth
Understanding the Process
It’s normal for your teeth to feel a bit loose during treatment. This is an expected part of the process, as your teeth need to loosen before they can move into their new, corrected positions. They will firm up once your treatment is complete.
