Life with Braces
The placement of braces means there’ll be an additional surface that needs to be taken care of, cleaned, and maintained to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape. During your first visit, our friendly team will discuss everything you need to know about braces.
Eating with Braces
You will have to stick to soft food during the first few days after your braces are installed or tightened. It is completely normal to feel discomfort and your teeth are loose as they start to move to their ideal positions.
While your teeth and bone are getting used to braces, it is advisable to eat soft foods, such as soft bread, chicken, cooked vegetables, and bananas.
There are also foods to avoid while wearing braces – mostly food easily caught between teeth and braces, such as:
Sticky foods: caramel, Skittles, Starbursts, toffee candies, gummy bears
Hard & Crunchy foods: hard candies, ice, nuts, lollipops, chips, popcorn
Staining foods: red wine, dishes with several spices
You also need to cut foods that require biting into small pieces, like apples, hard crusty bread, meat, corn on the cob, and carrots.
Loose Teeth, Discomfort, and Soreness
Your teeth and mouth may feel a little tender or sore during the first few days with your braces and after your monthly adjustments. It is entirely normal and should go away once your teeth and bone adjust to the forces from braces. Some people may find it intolerable, and you may take some OTC pain relievers to ease discomfort.
In addition, you may experience sores on your cheeks, tongue, and lips. As your tissues get used to the metal components of your braces, you may use orthodontic wax to prevent some parts from irritating your soft tissues.
Emergencies with Braces
True orthodontic emergencies such as facial swelling, unmanageable pain, and a tooth out of the socket are rare. Your orthodontist will be in control and oversee your treatment as much as possible to prevent emergencies; however, with missed appointments, these emergencies may occur. We suggest you call our office immediately when they happen.
Loose Brackets and Poking Wires
Brackets can come loose due to changes in your teeth alignment and eating hard foods. If this happens, please contact our office to know if an emergency appointment is required. If the bracket is still attached to the wire, secure it with orthodontic wax. However, if the bracket pops out of your mouth, place it in a small container and bring it to the office on your next visit.
You may also experience wires poking at the back of your teeth and irritating your cheek. Roll a small piece of orthodontic wax and cover the poking wire. Never do any DIY fixes you may find over the internet, like cutting with a nail clipper or pushing with an eraser, as it may deform your wire.
Take Care of Your Braces & Teeth
Any deformities or damage to the components of your braces can increase the length of your treatment process or move teeth in the wrong direction. Biting into hard food is the most common cause of wire deformity, so make sure to cut food into smaller pieces or avoid hard foods.
Playing Sports & Music Instruments with Braces
Braces won’t stop you from playing sports and musical instruments. If you play contact sports, wearing a mouthguard is recommended to protect your teeth and braces. Let us know during your first visit, and we will be happy to show you your options.
