Life with Braces
Eating with Braces
What can you eat? Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat! If you’ve been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is youst your chance! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard bread, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliance when you eat for as long as you’re wearing braces.
Foods to Avoid
- Chewy foodsl; bagels, hard rolls, licorice.
- Crunchy foods; popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods; caramels, gum.
- Hard foods; nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into; corn on the cob, apples, carrots.
- Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer
General Soreness
Loosening of Teeth
Loose Wire or Band
Don’t be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blut instrument (the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.
Care of Appliances
Brushing
It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
Step One
Using a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste place bristles where gums and teeth meet.
Step Two
For 10 seconds on each tooth use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines.
Step Three
Every tooth of both arches should be brushed slowly.
Step Four
Brush the lower teeth from gum line up and the upper teeth from the gum line down. Brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue too!
Flossing
Step One
Carefully thread unwaxed floss between braces and wire. You may find a floss threader helpful.
Step Two
Carefully floss around the braces.
Step Three
Carefully floss around the gum areas.
Step Four
Carefully floss around each tooth.
Athletics
Working Hours
- Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
- Saturday Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
