Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It's important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Eating with Braces
Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods/drinks to avoid with braces:

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, tortilla chips
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, gooey candies, taffy
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies, ice
  • Some foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, raw apples, raw carrots
  • Sodas — any carbonated beverages

Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! You may feel a small amount of discomfort for the first three days as your teeth move, and as your gums, cheeks, and mouth get used to your new braces, or for the first three days with a new wire, with each wire change.

To relieve discomfort, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater), then expectorate.

If further relief is needed, you can also try taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen.

If anything is rubbing or irritating your cheeks or lips, we recommend placing wax (in your new patient kit) over any brackets or parts of appliances that may rub.

Loose Wires, Bands, or Brackets
Your wires, bands, or brackets may at some time come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliances, either in person or give you care instructions over the phone. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

Take Care of your Appliances
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaws can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces
Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! For most sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliances. Ask about mouthguards for sports while you're in our office.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away.

More From KUSJ-FM