LIFE WITH BRACES
EATING WITH BRACES
Eating with braces will feel different at first. This is normal. The good news is that in a couple days you will get used to the braces. Most patients begin eating normally in a few days. Be sure to stay away from sticky, chewy foods or hard foods.
FOODS TO AVOID
- Sticky: gum, Skittles, Starburst, Laffy Taffy, Airheads…etc
- Hard: ice cubes, hard candies, lollipops, hard pretzels…etc
Some foods can be eaten with the correct preparation. You can cook raw vegetables to soften them, cut up apples, take meat off the bone and cut corn off the cob.
If you’re in doubt about a particular food, ask the doctor.
GENERAL SORENESS
Soreness for the first couple days after getting braces is normal. To help alleviate the soreness you can eat soft foods for the first couple days or take over-the-counter pain medication. Irritations to the cheeks and gums can be remedied with warm salt-water rinses or dental wax (provided to you in the water bottle given when your braces were put on).
CARE OF APPLIANCES
You should be brushing a minimum of three times a day (morning, when you get home from school or work and when you go to bed). Each brushing session should last a minimum of 3 minutes. Flossing and using a fluoride rinse once daily will also help keep your teeth and gums healthy. It is also very important to maintain a regular cleaning schedule with your dentist of at least every 6 months during treatment.
EMERGENCY
Most orthodontic emergencies can be addressed by calling the office. Our office is generally open six days a week and a doctor is on call anytime the office is closed. We encourage patients to call at any time if they have concerns. Keep in mind that there may be some discomfort for a few weeks after getting your braces on and for several days after an adjustment. In these situations, rinsing with salt water or taking an over-the-counter pain relievers may alleviate the pain.