Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Foods and Habits

Don’t worry! Know that we’re committed to helping you stay on track for your treatment so that you’ll be eating popcorn, chewing gum, and biting into apples again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances. Check out some braces friendly recipes below that have a twist on something familiar! There are still MANY foods you can still enjoy.

Foods you CAN eat with braces:

• Dairy - soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, yogurts, cottage cheese, eggs
• Breads - soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
• Grains - pasta, soft cooked rice
• Meats/poultry – tender meats, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood – any and all!
• Vegetables - mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, beans
• Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice, smoothies, berries
• Treats - ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, plain chocolates, peanut butter cups, brownies, soft cookies.

Recipe Suggestions:

• Appetizers & Drinks
• Soups & Vegetables
• Entrees
• Desserts

Foods to avoid with braces:

• Chewy foods - bagels, licorice, pizza crust, French breads
• Crunchy foods - popcorn, chips, ice, hard candies including lollipops, thick pretzels
• Sticky foods - caramel candies, chewing gum, gummy candies
• Hard foods - nuts, hard candies
• Foods that require biting into - corn on the cob, apples, carrots, ribs and chicken wings

Habits to avoid with braces:

• Pen chewing
• Nail-biting
• Smoking

What should having braces feel like?

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel tender or sore especially by the end of the day. This is perfectly normal. After two to three days, the general soreness will lessen. You can follow the analgesic recommendations that were given to you. Good news – it does get better! Hang in there, and know that it will all be worth it!

It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated as they become used to the braces. Warm salt water rinses (1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of lukewarm water) are a great, old fashioned remedy. It is also important to have great brushing and flossing to keep the bacteria at bay, and don’t forget to use wax! We will give you wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the irritations- just let us know if you start to run low!

Loose Wires and Bands

A wire or brace may come loose. If this happens, please contact us so we can help you understand the best course of action. We are also happy to schedule “comfort visits” to be sure there are no irritations and to be able to assure you that progress is unaffected – just let us know.

Often time though, you can save yourself a trip to our office with many home “fixes.” For example, tweezers or the eraser end of a pencil can be used to carefully and gently push poking wires back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the irritation.

Take Care of Your Appliances

Repeated breakage and damage to your braces can increase your time in braces and compromise the final result. So be sure to take care of all your appliances. Also, 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 Dr. Deb or Dr. Diane. Remember, we are a team and together we will get a great result!

Brushing & Flossing Your Teeth with Braces

When you have braces it’s very important to brush at least 2-3 times per day (2 minutes each time and floss once a day) in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. It is also imperative that you continue seeing your dentist and hygienist for routine cleanings as they are skilled to be able to work with braces and keep you healthy.

Great oral hygiene means a healthy bite and beautiful smile at the end. But did you know that consistently average to poor oral hygiene can actually slow down tooth movement? We all know what plaque can do to create tartar and cavities, but before it gets that far, your gums react and become red and puffy. This will extend your time in braces.

Printable instructions >

Playing Sports & Instruments with Braces

Athletes. You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, we recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and braces. We provide complimentary orthodontic friendly mouthguards in a variety of colors for our patients while you are in treatment – just let us know that you need one.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your braces have been damaged, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort with wax and keep the area clean by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater. If you are not in braces and have loosened teeth, please contact your dentist.

After your treatment is finished, please return to a customizable guard such as a “boil and bite” type. Often times, sports stores will carry these. You can also ask your dentist if their office makes custom mouth guards.

Musicians. Ever hear that phrase, “practice makes perfect?” Getting accustomed to the feel of the braces when playing wind instruments may seem daunting, but all our wind instrument players have done well! Their advice: don’t shy away from practicing, as it will prolong your adjustment period. Instead, know that it is very normal to have some difficulty with proper lip position and sores can develop too. Liberal use of wax and warm salt water rinses will help your lips and cheeks toughen. Let us know if you need more wax.