Eating With Braces
What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat!
For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Always avoid tough meat, hard breads, raw vegetables and hard fruits. You’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.
Brushing And Flossing
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 get periodic cleaning done during orthodontic treatment.
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 several days. Drinking cold water may help since the special archwires are activated by heat. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as crocin or combiflam, can also reduce the discomfort.
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 irritation.
If you develop ulcers a soothing lotion like Dologel or Mucopain can reduce the pain and burning sensation.
Loose Wire or Bands
Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the main 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.
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 Appliance
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.
Maintain Appointments Regularly
Frequently damaged appliance and changing or cancelling appointments can LENGTHEN the treatment time and increase the cost. If you play sports, it is important that you take special precautions. In case of an accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, notify us immediately. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.
What Are Separators
Separators are placed between the teeth to make room for the bands or braces. They may be a brass wire, a wire helix, or a small elastic. Separators should remain between the teeth until the banding appointment.
Avoid sticky foods such as chocolate, caramel, chewing gum, etc. These foods will stick to the separators and pull them out. Separators may become painful and/or uncomfortable. If you should have a large degree of discomfort, you can take crocin or combiflam or any painkiller you prefer.
Brush gently in the area where the separators have been placed. Avoid using toothpicks or floss where they will displace the separators. If one of your separators should become lost or dislodged, please call us immediately so they can be replaced.