 Life with Braces | Types of Braces | Types of Appliances | Braces in Action | Retainers In-Ovation® | Emergency Care | Oral Care Video | Resources  Eating with BracesWhat Can I Eat? If the braces are brand new on your teeth try: mashed potatoes, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, soups, pasta casseroles, sandwiches made with soft breads such as “Wonder Bread” or fresh whole wheat bread filled with creamy peanut butter and jelly or tuna or minced chicken salad. Breakfast might include scrambled eggs, hot cereals such as oatmeal, pancakes (avoid the crispy bacon). Desserts are easy and might include ice cream, puddings, canned fruits, and cakes (without nuts), but please guard against excessive sugars. Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat! New braces are an opportunity to lose a few pounds, as long as you don’t fill up on creamy mashed potatoes and ice cream. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, raw vegetables, hard pretzels and crunchy snack foods. Do not chew ice, beef jerky or “Slim Jims.” Sticky candy or hard candy are to be avoided. If you like sweets, please check with your doctor and the staff. Remember most of the people who work in this orthodontic office wore braces. Ask! They’ll guide you in a safe direction. Foods to Avoid
Always limit sodas and other beverages with processed sugar. This will help avoid sugar related harm to your teeth. General Soreness When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take Motrin, Advil, or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how! Loosening of Teeth This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions. Loose Wire or Band Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office. Care of Appliances To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time. Brushing It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Athletics If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness. Back to Top |