Eating with Braces

What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! If you've been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is just your chance! 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 bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Avoid:
Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
Sticky foods: caramels, hard, tough types of gum
Hard foods: nuts, candy
Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

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 aspirin 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.

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.

Retainer & Expander Instructions

Retainer Instructions

• Wear your removable retainer at least 9 hours per day. The easiest and safest time to wear it would be at night (or sleep). In some cases, you may need to wear it a few hours more. We will advise you if that will be necessary. Plan to wear it indefinitely at night. The longer it is worn, the straighter your teeth will stay. If you are not able to wear it during the night, or you are always taking it out in your sleep, you will need to wear it during the day. Keep in mind though that wearing it during the day increases the chance you will misplace or lose it!
  
  
• The new retainer may make your teeth a little sore at first. This is normal. Expect the soreness to be gone in a few days. If the soreness does last for more than a few days, or if it is rubbing your gums and causing a sore spot, call our office right away so we that may evaluate the problem and adjust the retainer as necessary.
  
  
• Clean your retainer daily by brushing it gently with a toothbrush and a mild dishwashing liquid. Brushing the retainer removes plaque and eliminates odors. Once or twice a week, you may soak the retainer in a denture-cleansing tablet to help clean and sterilize your retainer. This should not take the place of brushing though.
  
  
• Never soak or wash the retainer in warm or hot water. Never place it near any heat, i.e. in a hot car, near the stove, etc. The plastic can warp due to the heat, and would then need replacing.
  
  
• If you have a dog in the house BEWARE! They love to chew them up. Do not leave your retainer out where the dog may get it. We regularly replace retainers because of man's best friend.
  
  
• Always bring your retainer to each appointment. Since you will be wearing your retainer at night only, you need to remember to bring it to your appointment. If you are coming from school to your appointment, you or a parent needs to make sure the retainer comes with you. We need to check its fit. Sometimes it needs to be adjusted.
  
  
• In case you lose your retainer, call the office immediately!! If it is lost over the weekend, call the office first thing Monday. Your teeth can shift very quickly without the retainer being worn as we have asked you to wear it, especially the first year out of braces. We cannot be responsible for teeth shifting if you are not wearing your retainer as we have asked you to, or if you have lost it. Waiting, and hoping a lost retainer will show-up, only increases the chance teeth will be shifting.
  
  
• Replacing a retainer is expensive. So be very careful with it. With proper care, they will last many years.
  

If you should have any questions about any of this information, please ask. Knowledge is powerful , and if used properly, can help to avoid problems, wasted time and expense.

Removable Expander Instructions

• Wear your expander all the time. That means all day, during meals, and while sleeping.
  
  
• Remove your expander only to brush your teeth. 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.

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.

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.

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 can't take care of. It's important to know the names of the parts of your appliances. It will help, when you phone the office, to be able to identify what part is broken or out of place.