Eating With Braces

Be prepared to take a day or two to adjust to eating with your new braces. For the first two days, eat mainly soft foods. Do your best to protect your orthodontic appliances. If you wear traditional metal braces, avoid food that is sticky, chewy or hard. Invisalign clear aligners are removed prior to eating, so there are no restrictions to diet!

Foods to Avoid

Avoid any foods that fall into the categories below. Eating foods in the categories below can damage braces and increase treatment time. The foods listed afterwards are only an example and similar foods should be avoided.

Chewy foods: chewy pizza crust, bagels, jerky, chewy candy (such as licorice or starbursts)

Crunchy foods: crackers, breadsticks, popcorn, chips

Hard foods: nuts, candy

Sticky foods: caramels, gum, taffey, toffee

Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Chewing on hard things [for example, pens, pencils or fingernails] can also damage the braces.

General Soreness

Regardless if you choose traditional braces or Invisalign, you may feel a general soreness in your mouth for the first few days. Your teeth may be tender as you bite into food for 3 - 5 days after getting your new braces. To help alleviate pain, use a warm, salt water mouthwash by dissolving 1 tsp of salt in 8 oz of warm water and rinsing. If tenderness is more severe, you may take the pain reliever of your choice, such as tylenol, advil, etc..

With traditional metal braces, the lips, teeth, and tongue will need to become accustomed to the new appliance. This adjustment period may result in mouth irritation for up to two weeks. To reduce this irritation, you can put wax on the braces. Ask our dental staff about this procedure and we’d be happy to show you how!

Loosening of Teeth

In order for teeth to move, they first need to loosen up. This is normal and not something to worry about. After time in their new location, the teeth will again become rigidly affixed to their correct place in the mouth.

Care of Appliances

Patients and doctors work together in a partnership to achieve the goal of creating and maintaining a beautiful smile of straight teeth! Rubber bands, aligners, and retainers must be worn as prescribed in order for proper tooth movement. Damaged appliances will increase treatment time.

Dental Hygiene

When wearing traditional braces, brushing and flossing regularly is of the utmost importance! Without proper cleaning, patients may require professional cleaning to remove staining. Adults may need to visit a periodontist during their treatment if they have a history of gum disease.

Retainer Instructions

How long should I wear my retainers?
Wear retainers as prescribed by your doctor. Unless told otherwise, retainers should be worn full-time, especially for the first 6 weeks after braces.

Can I wear my retainer when I’m eating?
No. Retainers should be removed and placed in their case when you are eating. Bright cases can help you to remember your retainers after you are eating and help you avoid losing your retainers the way most are lost… being thrown away in a school cafeteria by mistake!

How do I clean my retainer?
Keep your retainer clean with a toothbrush, toothpaste and warm water once a day. You can also use efferdent or other dental appliance cleaners, but they are no substitute for regular brushing. Daily cleaning will help eliminate plaque and odors.

Is it okay to leave my retainer out and not put it in the case?
Considering that retainers are often lost at restaurants, accidentally thrown away in school cafeterias, or chewed on by pets, we strongly recommend that unworn retainers are always kept in its case.

How will a retainer affect my speech?
Speaking with a retainer may take some time to get used to. You can speed this process along by practicing speaking, reading or singing out loud. Try to learn a new tongue twister! Recite a poem for your family! Sing along to your favorite song on the radio! Any practice will help you speak more clearly with your new retainer!

What should I do if my retainer breaks?
Be kind to your retainer and treat it with care! They can break! Call to make an appointment immediately if you lose or break your retainer. If it is broken, do not try to adjust it yourself as the retainer bent into a different position may impact the position of your teeth! Always bring your retainers to your appointment as well.

Is there anything that I need to avoid to keep my retainers safe?
Remove your retainer when swimming and eating. Retainers should be kept away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, and the washing machine! Keep your retainer out of napkins where they can easily get lost and broken.

Removable Expander Instructions

If you have an expander, it should be worn at all times, removed only to brush your teeth. Expanders should be worn all day, while you are sleeping, and even at night! Clean your expander the same way you clean your teeth: brush it twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste!

Athletics

We recommend a mouthguard be worn while playing sports. Should any incident occur that results in trauma to the face, immediately check your mouth and appliances. Call us immediately for an appointment if appliances are damaged.

Loose Wire or Band

It is not uncommon for a wire or band to become loose. At times a loose wire may protrude causing irritation. In this event, you may use a blunt instrument, such as the eraser end of a pencil, to gently push the offending wire under the archwire. If the problem persists, you can use wax or wet cotton to alleviate the irritation. Call the office to get an appointment to repair the appliance. If a piece of the wire or band comes off, bring it with you to your appointment.

Emergency Care

Problems resulting in severe pain, a loose band, a broken wire, or a protruding wire that you are unable to handle independently may result in the need for an emergency appointment. Feel free to call 309-565-8374 and we will be able to help identify what part is broken or out of place and assist you in making your emergency appointment.