Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It's important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Photo (Right): Smiling youth with Oral B Power Brush toothbrush

Eating with Braces

Most orthodontic emergencies happen from patients putting things in their mouth and eating things that they shouldn't. Also, some foods are just plain not good for you due to the high sugar content. Follow the helpful hints below to avoid unnecessary breakage and cavities and to reduce treatment time!

Softer is Better:

When braces first go on, it is normal for you to experience some pressure and discomfort. For this reason we recommend soft foods, such as:

• Pasta, mashed potatoes, rice
• Soups, eggs
• Yogurt, pudding, health food milkshakes
• Gum, sugarless only, small pieces like Orbit

Once the initial discomfort of braces subsides, you'll be ready for more solid foods. Some things to keep in mind are:

• When eating chicken wings or ribs, cut the meat off the bone. Chewing on bones can break brackets.
• Hard crunchy foods like crisp fruits (apples) or fresh vegetables (carrot sticks, celery) must be cut into small pieces and chewed on the back teeth. Biting into something hard with your front teeth could break brackets.
• Cut fresh corn off the cob before you eat it.

No No's:

Unfortunately, some treats must be sacrificed. Foods that are very sticky, sugary or too hard can damage a wire of fixed appliance. The "no no" foods are:

• Whole nuts (ground or chopped nuts in baking is okay), and popcorn
• Anything sticky/chewy: toffee, caramel, gummy bears, cherry blasters, fuzzy peaches, wine gums, coke bottles, licorice, fruit roll-ups, sour soothers, jelly beans, etc.

Pop and slurpees are very high in sugar and are not recommended. If, on the rare occasion, you indulge in these treats, you must brush thoroughly with toothpaste immediately after.

Fun foods, in moderation are still allowed, such as potato chips, ice cream, cakes, cookies, pies, popcorn twists and cheeses.

There are some habits we ask you to avoid as well. Chewing on ice, pens, pencils or fingernails can cause breakage or put an unwanted bend in an arch wire.

Brushing Your Teeth with Braces

When you have braces it's very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. We are committed to helping our patients' maintain excellent oral hygiene during treatment and beyond. Therefore, we provide every patient an Oral B Triumph electric toothbrush and the Ortho Essentials program for a healthy dental lifetime at no additional cost.

• Brushing Instructions
• Flossing Instructions

Printable instructions >

Soreness caused from braces and appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just gotten their braces put on, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the discomfort, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. The wax in your new patient kit can be put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need more wax, please let us know!

Loose Wires and Bands

If a wire or bands comes loose, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Take Care of your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match - we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance. We have a mouthguard that will work for you.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your appliance has been damaged, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort with wax or by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.