Life With Braces
It is important to take care of your appliances as otherwise it can increase your treatment time. Also, your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you regularly wear the rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances as prescribed by your doctor.
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We recommend you brush your teeth at least 3 times a day with braces or as often as each time after you eat. Brushing regularly will help to remove the food that gets caught between your braces and helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should floss at least once a day. 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.
Before you can start eating your favorite foods, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your braces.
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
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
Foods you CAN NOT eat with braces:
Chewy foods — bagels, licorice, hard rolls
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, ribs, chicken on bone, burgers, pizza
Great news for athletics! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! We recommend you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and braces. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouth guard for the best protection.
In case of a sports emergency, immediately check your mouth 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.
Playing instruments with braces will require some adjustment initially but wearing braces will not prevent you from participating in school activities.
We recommend that you continue seeing your dentist every 6 months for routine dental check ups and cleanings. If you are unable to keep your teeth clean, you may need more frequent visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning. Also, if extra care is needed, our office will help coordinate with your dentist.
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