You’ve finally had your braces fitted by our orthodontist. Now, how do you take care of them? You need to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of your favorite treats, you will need to take special care to avoid foods that could damage your new appliances.
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can inspect and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is irritating your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
• Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
• 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
• Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
• Bread — 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
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).
If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they adjust to the braces and become accustomed to them. We would be happy to give you some dental wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. 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 your doctor.
Game, set, match— we have great news for athletes! You can still participate in sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment and wearing braces in Springfield, MO. If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliances. Let our orthodontist know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.
In the event of a sports-related emergency, check your mouth and appliance for damage immediately. If you notice any loose teeth or damage to your appliance, please get in touch with our office. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
