Well, okay, they look like braces. But when they are all finished doing their job, your teeth will be beautiful, and your smile will be amazing!
While you are wearing your braces, we’d like to remind you that there are things that you can do to help your braces do their job as fast as possible, and to make sure that your teeth are healthy and beautiful:
Regular Appointments: Be sure to come and see us for all of your regularly scheduled appointments. Your braces need to be adjusted every four weeks or so in order to do their job and correct your bite. If you miss appointments, your treatment time could be extended.
Loose Bands or Brackets: If you have a loose band or bracket, call us right away. We will make arrangements to see you as soon as possible. Even if you have a regular appointment coming soon, please call us. We can’t always fit in the time it takes to do a repair during your regular visit. Loose bands or brackets will definitely prolong treatment. More here
Brushing: Brush your teeth frequently and thoroughly. Poor brushing can lead to permanent damage to your teeth and gums.
Your Family Dentist: Visit your family dentist regularly during your treatment. You want to be sure that your teeth stay healthy and free of decay during your treatment.
Sugar: Avoid excess sugar and pop, and be sure to brush right away after any sugary treats.
Foods to avoid with braces
Even with braces, you can eat most of the foods that you normally like. However, there are some things that you should avoid because they can break or damage your braces.
Gum, sugarless or otherwise
Sticky foods – caramels, Sugar Daddies, Sugar Babies, Starbursts; licorice, Tootsie Rolls, toffee, caramel apples
Hard foods – nuts, hard candy, popcorn, hard pizza crust, apples or carrots (unless cooked or cut into small pieces), ice, corn on the cob, jerky
Avoid biting on pens and pencils
Foods you CAN eat with braces
Meats/poultry – chicken, meatballs, burgers, lunch meats, etc.
Seafood – tuna, salmon, crab cakes, shrimp, etc.
Vegetables – lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans, etc.
Dairy – soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Bread – soft bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains – pasta, soft-cooked rice
Fruits – harder fruits cut into pieces, applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats – ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake, pie
In fact, most of your favorite foods
Handling Orthodontic Emergencies
Any injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment in the future. Here’s a quick summary of what to do for some common difficulties with braces.
Broken Archwires: If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue or gums, call us right away so that we can schedule you for an appointment to repair it. Until your appointment, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you can’t reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or a piece of gauze until you can get to us. Never cut the wire.
Loose Brackets and Bands: If a bracket or band loosens or breaks, please call us right away so that we can schedule you for an appointment for repairs. While you are waiting to come to see us, temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. See us as soon as possible. If the problem is a loose band, save it and call us for an appointment to have it re-cemented or replaced (and to have missing spacers replaced). More on this website