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Life With Braces

If you love popcorn and potato chips - don't worry! You will be back to enjoying them in no time. However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, it's important that you learn about your new braces and how different foods should be eaten and what precautions should be taken in order to keep your braces in good shape for the duration of your treatment.​

Foods to limit:

  • Chewy foods — licorice, pizza crust, jerky

  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum, taffy

  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies, pizza crust

  • Foods that require biting into directly — corn on the cob, apples, carrot sticks

Discomfort

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender, sore or bulky. This is a normal reaction to your new appliances, and after about a week (varies) you should be feeling good as new!  These aches may come and go with adjustments, but typically become much more manageable as you progress through treatment.


If the pain is persistent enough, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We will provide orthodontic wax at the initial appointment, but if you need more at any time, please let us know.

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Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth a small amount to allow for orthodontic movement, once your teeth have been repositioned, they will become stable again.  

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Loose Wires and Bands

Although your braces are cemented to the teeth, in some situations, the wires or brackets on your braces may 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.

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Take Care of Your Appliances

Damaged or abused appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take special care.  This means following our food and eating guidelines, keeping your teeth and appliances extremely clean, and wearing a mouthguard during sports. 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 doctor, so compliance plays a large role in the success of your treatment.

 

Playing Sports with Braces

For all of our athletes our there- don’t fret! You can still play sports as you normally would while in your braces.  It's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. We will give you one on the day you get your appliances.


In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.

Foods to enjoy:

  • Dairy — soft cheese, yogurt, milk-based drinks

  • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches,  muffins without nuts

  • Grains — pasta, cooked rice,

  • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats

  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables

  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice

  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, frozen yogurt, fruit smoothies, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake, pudding

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