Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, especially when you’re wearing braces. The brackets and wires can make cleaning your teeth more challenging, but it’s crucial to adjust your routine to keep your smile healthy throughout your orthodontic journey.
Patients who neglect proper oral hygiene may need to visit the dentist more often for professional cleanings. For adults with a history of gum disease, we recommend seeing a periodontist during orthodontic treatment to ensure optimal oral health.
Watch the instructional videos below for tips on effectively caring for your braces.
Eating with Braces
One of the most common questions we hear is, “Can I eat my favorite foods with braces?” The good news is that you can still enjoy a wide variety of foods, but you will need to adjust your choices—especially right after an adjustment. For the first couple of days following an adjustment, it’s best to stick to soft foods that won’t put extra stress on your braces. As time goes on, you’ll be able to enjoy a broader range of foods. However, remember to be mindful of what you eat in order to protect your braces.
Foods to Avoid
- Chewy foods: soft candies, bagels, tough rolls
- Crunchy foods: chips, ice cubes, pretzels
- Sticky foods: gummy candy, caramel, taffy
- Hard foods: hard candies, popcorn kernels, raw nuts
- Foods that require biting: apples, carrots, corn on the cob
Also, avoid chewing on non-food items like pens or fingernails, as they can damage your braces. Damaged braces may lead to delays in treatment and additional appointments.
General Soreness
Experiencing soreness in your mouth and tender teeth is normal, especially within the first 3 to 5 days after getting your braces. This discomfort is temporary and occurs as your teeth begin to shift. To relieve soreness, over-the-counter medications like Tylenol can help ease discomfort.
Additionally, your lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated as they adjust to the new braces. This is common and usually lasts between one and two weeks. To minimize irritation, we provide orthodontic wax that can be placed over the brackets to offer relief.
Rubber Band Wear
For orthodontic treatment to be most effective, it’s essential that you follow your orthodontist’s instructions, particularly regarding rubber bands and other appliances. These tools help move your teeth and jaw into their proper positions. When worn consistently, rubber bands can significantly speed up your treatment. Failure to wear them as prescribed or damaging your appliances can lead to a longer treatment time, so please be diligent and follow your orthodontist’s guidance.
Loose Wire or Band
Occasionally, a wire or band may become loose. If this happens, don’t be alarmed. In many cases, it’s easily fixable. If a wire becomes irritating, use a blunt object, like the eraser end of a pencil, to gently push the wire back into place. Only attempt this if the discomfort persists despite using orthodontic wax. Use additional wax or wet cotton to alleviate the discomfort if the irritation continues.
Be sure to contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment so we can fix the issue and ensure your treatment continues as planned.
Loosening of Teeth
It’s perfectly normal for your teeth to feel a little loose at times during treatment. While it may feel strange, this is a natural part of the process. Teeth must loosen to move into their new, corrected positions. Once treatment is completed, your teeth will settle into their new, firmer positions.
Athletics and Braces
If you’re involved in sports, especially contact sports, it’s important to let us know. Wearing a protective mouthguard can help shield your braces and teeth from injury while you play. Make sure to wear your mouthguard during all sports activities!
