Caring For Your Braces

As a parent, you know the importance of having a healthy and straight smile. Making the leap towards braces is a sometimes a monumental decision and can have a significant impact on your child’s life. With the many activities that your teen may be involved with, like sports, school, jobs and various other activities, traditional braces might not be the best fir for him/her. Invisalign® however, grants an alternative to your teen, so he/she is able to have a straight smile with fewer interruptions. This also is a great alternative, since Invisalign® Teen means that you don’t have to visit the orthodontist as often, which means more time for you and your teen to deal with your busy schedules!

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 with braces:

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans, sliced vegetables
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice, sliced fruits
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

I’m Feeling Sore From My Braces

Initially, when you first get braces, your mouth will feel a little sore and tender. This is because your teeth are not used to the new pressure put on by your braces. However, this is completely normal and we can assure you that your mouth will not feel sore forever! For pain relief, we recommend gargling with a salt-water solution or some pain relief medication. Take this very cautiously and as the bottle outlines as a proper dosage. It is also very normal for your tongue and gums to feel tender, as your mouth is getting used to having the braces in there. We will happily give you some wax, so you could put it over the bracket, where your tongue or cheek experience the most tenderness.

My Teeth Are Loose:

If your teeth are starting to feel loose, don’t worry! This is a completely normal feeling when you get your braces on and for a little bit after that. This is because your braces have to loosen your teeth, to help them move to their proper position. Once your teeth are in their proper position and your braces are off, they will not feel loose any longer.

I Have a Loose Wire or Band

Sometimes, wires or bands can come loose. If you find that any of your wires have come loose, start to poke your mouth, or bands come off, please contact our office so we can get it fixed for you! If any of your appliances come off, please be sure to bring it with you to the office.

If any part of your appliance comes loose and is poking your mouth and causing discomfort or irritation, we recommend either putting wax on the area or bending the wire back gently with a spoon or an eraser end, until you’re able to come into the office to have it fixed. Can I Still Play Sports?

Can I Still Play Sports?

The great news for athletes is that you are absolutely still able to be involved in sports or extra-curricular activities while in your orthodontic treatment! However, for those of you who do play impact sports, we recommend you wear a mouth guard to protect your braces and lips from getting damaged or broken. If you don’t know the right way to wear a mouth guard (the Boil and Mold types are the best, e.g. Under Armour or Shock Doctor), bring it in and we’ll be happy to show you the positioning it should be in for optimal protection. If anything does come off or comes loose, contact our office right away so we can fix it for you.

Please Take Care of Your Appliances

If you have a damaged appliance, this can prolong and/or lengthen the duration of your orthodontic treatment, as incorrect placement will alter the positioning of your teeth and/or jaw. It is very important that you properly take care of your orthodontic appliances. At the beginning of your treatment, our orthodontic staff will tell you how to properly care for them. If you are still unsure of the proper steps to take, feel free to call our office and we will be happy to let you know!

Caring For Your Braces