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..

Eating with Braces

Don't worry, you'll be eating and snacking on all the foods you love again in no time. However you will need to take special caution with some foods that can cause damage to your new appliances..

Use caution with foods similar to these:

• Chewy Foods – bagels, pizza crust
• Crunchy Foods – popcorn, chips, ice
• Hard Foods – nuts, hard candies, cough drops
• Foods that require biting into – fresh fruits, fresh vegetables

Soreness caused from braces and appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your cheeks and lips feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just had 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 four ounces of warm water. Swish this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater). Do not rinse, eat or drink for 30 minutes. The salt water will help the soft tissue areas feel better and heal. It is not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for a short time as they toughen and become used to the braces. You can also use some wax to put over any of the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need wax, please let us know. If your teeth are uncomfortable, you can take a pain reliever as directed on the bottle.

Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth in order to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, 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 cover the area.

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.

Click here to read more about the proper care of your appliances

Playing Sports with Braces

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. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

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.