Now that you have your braces, it is important to know how to care for them.
Eating with Braces
In order to protect your new braces, you have to be cautious of the types of food you eat and know which foods you should avoid during your treatment.
Foods to Avoid
- Hard foods like hard candies and nuts.
- Crunchy foods like chips and popcorn.
- Sticky foods like gum and caramel.
- Chewy foods like licorice and bagels.
Foods that require you to bite into like apples, carrots and corn on the cob.
Foods You CAN Eat
- Fruits: applesauce, bananas
- Vegetables: beans, mashed potatoes, steamed spinach
- Dairy: yogurt, pudding, soft cheese
- Breads: pancakes, muffins without nuts, soft tortillas
- Grains: soft cooked rice and pasta
- Seafood: crab cakes, fish
- Meats: chicken softly cooked, meatballs, lunch meats
- Treats: milkshakes, Jell-O, ice cream without nuts, cake
Habits to Avoid:
- Biting your fingernails
- Eating ice
- Chewing on pen tops and pencils
Sore Mouth
It is common for patients’ mouths to feel a little sore after getting their braces and after adjustments. This tenderness subsides fairly quickly. You can swish a salt water solution in your mouth for a few minutes to help alleviate the soreness. (Mix one teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of warm water.) Do not swallow the saltwater.
If the saltwater solution doesn’t help, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces.
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. Let us know if you need some wax.
Loose Teeth
As your braces first begin to reposition your teeth, it is common for your teeth to feel a little loose. This is natural and will no longer feel that way when the teeth have been repositioned.
Loose Bands and Wires
Call our office for advice if a band or wire is loosened. Be sure to keep any piece of your appliance that may fall off, and bring it to your next appointment.
If a wire is loose, you can use a pencil eraser or the back of a spoon to gently push the wire back into position. If the loose wire is irritating your gums or lips, use wax to relieve the discomfort.
Take Care of Your Appliances & Braces
It is important to take special care of your appliances to avoid prolonging your treatment time because of damaged appliances. You should follow the instructions provided to you by Dr. Vecere as to how often you should wear your rubber bands, headgear, retainer or other appliances that have been prescribed to you.
Sports & Braces
You can still play sports while in braces, but it is recommended you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and braces/appliances. If you play sports, ask a team member about mouth guards so we can supply you with one.
In the event of a sports related injury, immediately examine your mouth and appliance to determine if anything has been damaged. Contact our office if anything is broken/damaged or if any of your teeth are loose. You may also use wax or rinse with a warm saltwater solution to temporarily relieve any discomfort.