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Now that you have braces, understanding how to maintain them during your orthodontic treatment is essential.
Eating with Braces
While you might miss popcorn and chips for a while, it’s important to avoid certain foods that could damage your braces. Avoid chewy items like bagels and licorice, crunchy snacks such as popcorn and chips, sticky sweets like caramel candies, hard foods including nuts and hard candies, and foods that require biting into like corn on the cob and whole apples.
Instead, you can enjoy dairy products like soft cheese and pudding, soft breads such as tortillas and pancakes, grains like pasta and soft-cooked rice, soft meats and seafood like chicken and salmon, and soft vegetables and fruits including mashed potatoes and bananas. Treats aren’t off-limits—enjoy ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, and soft cakes.
Dealing with Soreness
It’s normal to experience some soreness after getting braces. To alleviate pain, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water, swish and gargle for a couple of minutes; do not swallow this solution. For severe pain, consider an over-the-counter pain reliever. To ease irritation from lips, cheeks, and tongue, use orthodontic wax to cover braces.
Loose Teeth and Appliance Issues
It’s normal for teeth to feel loose; this means your braces are working. If wires or bands loosen, use the back of a spoon or an eraser end of a pencil to temporarily push them back into place and cover them with wax if they cause irritation. It’s important to contact us for a proper repair.
Appliance Care
Maintaining your appliances diligently is crucial—this includes wearing rubber bands, headgear, retainers, or other devices as directed. Damage to these can prolong treatment.
Playing Sports with Braces
You can still enjoy sports! Wear a mouthguard for protection. In case of a sports-related accident, check for damage and contact our office if there’s any issue. Temporarily relieve discomfort with wax or a saltwater rinse.
Proper care of your braces is key to achieving the best results in the shortest time possible. If you have any concerns or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
