LIFE WITH BRACES
Eating with Braces
The first thing most people want to know is, what can I eat? For the first couple of days, you'll want to stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite into an apple again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.
Foods to Avoid
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
- Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
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. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. 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. Manage this and other orthodontic events with confidence - see Emergency Care.
Care of Appliances
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. 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 and/or need to have their braces removed until they are able to demonstrate good home care. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
When you have braces on, it's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly. Getting cavities in the teeth and having sore puffy gums due to inadequate home care not only slows down orthodontic treatment, but may require removal of the braces and cessation of treatment altogether. When your braces come off we want you to have teeth that are not only straight, but healthy and cavity free too!
Using a soft toothbrush, brush above and below the braces using a small circular motion. Food and plaque will especially collect between the braces and gums so make sure to concentrate on this area specifically, tilting the bristles of the brush alternatively toward the gums and toward the braces. The chewing surfaces and insides of the teeth will be easier to clean, but don't forget them too! Ultrasonic and electric toothbrushes are highly recommended as they can help you do a more thorough job. However, whether using specialized or regular toothbrushes, you should be spending about 2 minutes to brush your teeth making sure to get the bristles on every tooth.
To successfully complete your orthodontic treatment plan, patients must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the elastics (rubber bands), headgear or other appliances as prescribed.
The following paragraphs describe the types of appliances that may be used during your treatment.
"Crib"
This appliance is used to eliminate habits such as finger and thumb sucking as well tongue thrusts. It is attached to the upper molars and extends on the roof of the mouth to just behind the upper front teeth. A "crib" is worn until the habit is eliminated (usually less than 6 months).
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wearing elastics (rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed because the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they are worn as prescribed.
"Facemask"
A "Facemask" or reverse headgear helps to correct underbites in a growing child. Bands are fit on the upper molars and a removable headgear is worn at night to encourage growth of the upper jaw and discourage growth of the lower jaw.
FORSUS® Appliance
The FORSUS appliance reduces overbite by encouraging the lower teeth forward and the upper molars backward. This fixed appliance is used mostly for younger, growing children and is worn for about 9-12 months.
Headgear
Headgear improves the relationship of the upper jaw to the lower jaw in growing children. This is beneficial in cases where an overbite is due to a smaller lower jaw. Bands are fit on the upper molars and a removable Headgear is worn at night to hold the upper jaw steady, while the lower jaw grows out under it.
Palatal Expander
The palatal expander "expands" (widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Your orthodontist will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.
Retainers
Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. Your orthodontist will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment.
Separators (or Spacers)
Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods or with toothpicks and floss.
RETAINERS
Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
Take your retainers out when eating… and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but these do not take the place of brushing.
When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster.
Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
Retainer replacement is expensive… with proper care they will last for years!
Remove retainers when swimming.
Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.