LIFE WITH BRACES!
Brushing technique
Looking after your gums and teeth should be a top priority once you start wearing braces. If you take care of your braces and oral hygiene, your braces will be as comfortable and effective as possible.
Brushing braces is a vital aspect of better oral hygiene. When wearing braces, it becomes very easy for food particles and plaque to get trapped. This is why it is especially important to use a soft-head toothbrush to clean the gums, teeth, and braces.
Eating with Braces
There is a common misconception that you must sacrifice your favorite food when wearing braces. While you do need to avoid certain types of food you were able to eat before, there is still a wide range of food items that you can enjoy. You will need to take special care about food that could potentially damage your braces.
Foods you should avoid when wearing braces.
- Any kind of chewy food
- Any kind of food that could be hard on your teeth or gums
- Any kind of crunchy food
- Any kind of food that could stick to your teeth, gums or braces
Foods you can consume with braces:
- Dairy food
- Soft-cooked grains
- Soft bread that is not chewy or sticky like meatballs, lunchmeats, etc.
- Soft-cooked seafood like tuna or crab cakes
- Soft cooked vegetables
- Soft fruits that don’t stick to your teeth, gums or braces
- Treats that are not sticky, chewy, crunchy or hard
But, for good oral hygiene, always remember to control your intake of sugar.
Habits to avoid with braces:
During your time wearing braces, there are some habits you should avoid, to prevent damaging your orthodontic device. Some of the most common are: smoking, biting nails and chewing on hard objects like ice cubes or pens.
Loose bands or wires
If, in any case, any wire or band on you braces comes loose, please call us immediately so we can examine and repair the orthodontic device. When you visit the doctor during such a situation, please bring any broken part/s along with you to the practice.
If a physical injury (like a blow to the mouth) was the cause of the problem, please let us know immediately. Dr. Amir will make a diagnose, and decide if the problem is serious and if you require urgent care or it can wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Soreness due to your new braces
You might feel a little tenderness or a sore feeling in your mouth as you get your braces for the first time. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and should fade with time. If you want to relieve the pain, try swishing and gargling a solution of one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Do it for a few minutes and spit the salt water out.
You can also take a pain reliever if the pain is too severe. Usually, patients find relief with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®).
Of course, before consuming any medication, consult your doctor to understand any potential side effects or to check if you have an allergy to any of these drugs. It is not recommended to consume these drugs for more than three to five days in a row. If the pain still persists for a longer period of time, please contact our practice at the earliest.
