Life with Braces

Eating with Braces

Drs. Warriner and Sumner recommend eating a well balanced diet using special consideration for only a few hard to eat foods. Our suggestion for:

• Corn on the cob – cut it off the cob and eat with a fork
• Apple, carrots – cut into small pieces and chew with your back teeth
• Popcorn, chips, and nuts – limit the amount as much as possible they can bend wires or move brackets

Foods to Avoid

• Ice
• Sticky gum or candy – includes but not limited to… hubba bubba, caramel, laffy taffy, sugar babies, sugar free gum, skittles
• Chewing on hard things – pens, pencils, fingernails

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Our recommendation is to eat and chew as normal. A softer diet only extends the time of the soreness. Rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash can relieve this tenderness. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, then Tylenol or Motrin type products may be given. 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.

Loose Wire or Band

Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (the back of a 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.

Care of Appliances

To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the doctors. 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.

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.

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