Treatment with braces is a team effort involving you (the Patient), the Doctor, and the Office. That’s right; your contribution through excellent cooperation is critical to achieving the best possible results efficiently and effectively. Excellent cooperation involves taking care of your teeth, gums, and braces and following the doctor’s instructions regarding your appliances and rubber bands. Here are some common questions about braces:
Will braces hurt?
When you first get your braces on and after you’ve had an adjustment appointment, your mouth may feel sore and your teeth tender to biting for 3-5 days. If necessary, you may take Tylenol, Advil, or whatever you would normally take for a headache or general pain. After the soreness passes, rest assured that your teeth are still moving!
The lips, cheeks, and/or tongue may also become irritated for the first 1-2 weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces. We will supply wax to stick on the braces as a cushion for irritated areas.
How do I brush and floss?
It is more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so that the teeth and gums stay healthy throughout the process. Poor oral hygiene may cause bad breath, tooth discoloration, white spots, cavities, and/or gum disease. Good oral hygiene habits will keep your teeth and gums healthy, which can reduce treatment time.
Please ensure all surfaces of the teeth are brushed thoroughly, including the area between the braces and the gums (above the upper braces and below the lower braces). Use a proxy brush and floss threader to brush/floss under the wire. Check with a mirror after you brush to see if there is any food or plaque still stuck anywhere, and go back to brush those areas until your teeth are sparkling clean. Please refer to the following video:
What Can I Eat with Braces?
For the first few days after each appointment, you may feel some soreness. During this time, stick to soft foods like soups, stews, mashed potatoes, and rice. Even after the soreness passes, you must avoid the following food and candy to prevent breaking braces and/or distorting wires:
- DO NOT eat STICKY food/candy
– Examples: Skittles, Starburst, Gummy Bears, Gummy Worms, Fruit Roll-Up, Caramels, Gum - DO NOT eat HARD or CRUNCHY food/candy
– Examples of hard candy: Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers, peppermints, and lollipops.
– Examples of hard/crunchy food: tough meats, chips, popcorn, cookies, nuts, granola bars, ice - DO NOT eat BIG/BULKY food
– Examples: bagels, hoagie rolls, hard baguettes, meats on bone, hard or soft pretzels. - DO NOT eat WHOLE RAW FRUITS/VEGETABLES
– Instead, cut/dice them into smaller pieces and chew them with back teeth
– Examples: apples, carrots, corn on the cob - DO NOT drink sugary drinks like soda
- DO NOT eat any nuts or ice
Broken braces cause discomfort and slow down treatment, which means you will need to come to the office more often for longer periods of time. Here are some tips to ensure your braces are protected:
- Avoid any foods that may damage or break the braces and wires. Please use your best judgment if the specific food is not listed above.
- Cut BULKY foods into small, bite-sized pieces to chew gently with back teeth.
- Remove meat from bone before eating
- Limit soda to special occasions only
What should I do if something breaks or becomes loose?
Please do not be alarmed if any braces, wires, bands, or appliances become loose. These things happen, and if there is no immediate pain or irritation, it may be okay to wait for the next scheduled adjustment appointment to fix the issue. Please call our office so that we can either schedule you for an emergency appointment or make a note of the breakage for the next scheduled adjustment appointment.
If there is pain or irritation, there are some things you can try at home to keep you comfortable until you are able to come into the office to fix the issue.
- If a wire is sticking out and irritating your cheeks or gums, use a blunt instrument (like the eraser end of a pencil or Q-tip) to push the wire back into the bracket or bend it inward so it is not sticking out. If this is not working, place wax over the sharp end until we are able to see you.
- If a bracket is broken and there is discomfort, place wax over the bothersome areas until you are able to come into the office.
- If a color tie comes off and a loose wire is causing discomfort, use tweezers to pull the wire back into the center of the bracket.
What are rubber bands (elastics) for?
Orthodontic treatment is not just about straightening teeth; it’s also about correcting the bite! Rubber bands placed on specified hooks of the braces are the simplest way to correct bite problems. The alternatives to rubber bands are bulky metal appliances, extractions of teeth, or incomplete orthodontic treatment. In order to get the most out of the rubber bands, they must be worn full-time (or at least 22 hours a day), only taken off to eat or brush/floss. Lack of cooperation with rubber bands will lengthen treatment time or result in unachieved treatment goals.
How often do I need to come in?
Typically, you will be seen every 6-12 weeks, depending on the goals for that specific adjustment. Please come to all of your scheduled appointments so that progress can be monitored appropriately. Unmonitored treatment can result in unwanted side effects which can damage your teeth and gums.
Can I play sports with braces?
Yes! But it’s important you let us know. We are happy to provide a protective mouthguard for contact sports if you do not have one already!
Do I need to see my general/pediatric dentist during orthodontic treatment?
Yes. Patients with braces and/or other orthodontic appliances require more effort to keep their teeth and gums clean and healthy. At Smile Story Orthodontics, we take your oral health very seriously and recommend that patients see their family dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings every 6 months throughout orthodontic treatment.
