Life with Braces
Life with Braces
Congratulations, you have braces! Now what happens? It’s important to know how to protect and take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
Eating with Braces
Don’t worry, before long you will be able to once again eat all of the foods you enjoy! Until then, you may need to make a few changes to your diet.
Foods to avoid:
- 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
Foods you CAN eat:
- Dairy - soft cheese, pudding, milk based drinks
- Breads - soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o 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 w/o nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Soreness from braces and appliances
When you get your braces on your teeth and mouth may feel tender or sore. This is normal and will not last forever! To relieve the pain try dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water and rinse your mouth (do not swallow the salt water).
If the pain is more severe you can also try taking aspirin or a similar pain reliever. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. Dr. Hilgers can give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax please ask!
Loose Teeth
If you notice that your teeth are feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces or appliance must loosen your teeth first in order to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have moved to the right spot, they will no longer be loose.
Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens please call our office at (623) 935-3908 as soon as possible so that Dr. Hilgers can check 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.
As a temporary fix, if a wire has become loose use 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 causing irritation to your lips or checks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Take Care of your Appliances
Damaged appliances can make your treatment time longer, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct position if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer or other appliance prescribed by Dr. Hilgers.
If you have any questions about how to properly take care of your appliance please ask Dr. Hilgers at your next appointment!
Brushing your teeth with Braces
When you have braces it’s very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. Please watch the short video below for proper brushing and flossing instructions.
Playing Sports with Braces
Good news for athletes - you can still play sports even with orthodontic braces and appliances! If you do play sports it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance.
In case of a sports emergency be sure to check your mouth and your appliance immediately. If you notice any loose teeth, or that your appliance has been damaged please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort with wax or by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
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Brushing: Step 1
Using a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste place bristles where gums and teeth meet.
Brushing: Step 2
For 10 seconds on each tooth use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines.
Brushing: Step 3
Every tooth of both arches should be brushed slowly.
Brushing: Step 4
Brush the lower teeth from gum line up and the upper teeth from the gum line down. Brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue too!
Flossing: Step 1
Carefully thread unwaxed floss between braces and wire. You may find a floss threader helpful.
Flossing: Step 2
Carefully floss around the braces.
Flossing: Step 3
Carefully floss around the gum areas.
Flossing: Step 4
Carefully floss around each tooth.
