Eating with Braces

What can you eat?
For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to regain your normal diet. You will need to protect your orthodontic appliances against sticky and hard foods as long as you are wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid

• Chewy foods: Bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: Popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: Caramels, gum, taffy
• Hard foods: Nuts, candy
• Food you have to bite in to: Corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things: Pens, pencils, fingernails

General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Because wires are typically thermo sensitive, rinsing with cold water will decrease the level of force on the teeth. Try to use your teeth normally. It is important to eat even if your teeth are sensitive. If tenderness is severe, take whatever pain relief medication you normally take for headaches or similar pain. The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated as they are becoming accustomed to the new surface of braces. In this instance, apply a popsicle to the irritated area. You can also put wax on the braces to lessen the discomfort as we showed you in your patient orientation visit.
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Loosening of Teeth
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Do not worry. It is normal. Teeth must first loosen so that they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new, corrected positions.

Care of Appliances
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist and his/her dentist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the elastics, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time. Our first indication of appliance care is how well the braces are maintained.

Brushing
It is more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so that the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. During the period of time that the braces are on, it is mandatory that the patient see the dentist at 6 month intervals. In some cases, visiting the dentist at more frequent intervals is recommended. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
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Brushing instructions:
(Brushing with braces will require five to six minutes.)

• First, rinse vigorously with water.
• Second, brush with water alone, loosening large food particles away from the braces.
• Third, rinse with water again.
• Next, brush with a small amount of toothpaste.
• First brush above the braces next to the gum tissue, then on the chewing surfaces.
• Lastly, rinse and take a good look!

Retainer Instructions
Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. This will typically be for several months after braces are removed. After full time wear, night time retainer use will be necessary until the doctor asks the patient to stop. Night time wear usually lasts a minimum of six years. This will maintain the correct position of the teeth. If retainers are not worn for a long period of time, the teeth will shift which will result in the retainers not fitting properly. In this case, it is important to visit our office for either an adjustment or for impressions to make new retainers. There is a replacement fee for new retainers.

Remove your retainers when eating and always put the retainers in their cases.
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Clean retainers thoroughly with a toothbrush and toothpaste every time you brush your teeth. Never use hot water to clean or soak your retainer. Brushing retainers removes plaque and eliminates odors.

When retainers are not in your mouth, they should be in a retainer case.

Initially, it may be difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to train yourself how to talk with retainers in place.

If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.

Always bring your retainers with you to your appointments. Remove retainers when swimming. Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, washing machines, and napkins.

Long term retention will ensure that your teeth stay in their corrected position.
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Removable Expander
Instructions Wear your expander at all times. That means all day and while sleeping. Remove your expander only when brushing your teeth and eating. Brush your expander at least twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Fixed Expander
Instructions Turn your expansion screws as instructed. Insert the key into the hole and turn toward the arrow.

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, stop turning the expander as instructed.

Athletics
If you play sports, it is important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and appliances immediately. If the teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone our office at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.
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Loose Wire or Band
Do not be alarmed if a wire protrudes or becomes loose. This will happen occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use the eraser end of a pencil and carefully push the irritating wire under the archwire. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax on the wire to reduce the annoyance. If any piece of your braces comes off, save it and bring it with you to our office.

Emergency Care
As a general rule, an emergency appointment may be made when there is severe pain, a loose band, a broken wire, or something sticking out that you cannot take care of. It is important to know the names of the parts of your appliances. When you phone the office, it will help you to be able to identify what parts are broken or out of place.
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