Brace Care Advice
Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It is important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should email or call when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can't take care of yourself. You might be surprised to learn that you can temporarily solve many problems.
We are more than happy to answer any of your questions or concerns about life with braces. Refer to the following sections for more information, and call us if you have any questions! We are all in this together!
Eating with Braces
Don't worry, you will be eating normally 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 braces. There aren’t too many restrictions on what you can and can’t eat while having orthodontic treatment but there are a few guidelines you should follow:
- Avoid chewing with your front teeth and use less force when chewing as this may cause the brackets to break off.
- Consider eating a healthy diet. Foods to consider for the duration of the treatment, with the emphasis being on eating a soft food diet, include vegetables, meat, fish, pasta and rice dishes. If the food needs chewing, cut the food up into small pieces and to chew gently with your back teeth.
- Avoid sugary foods, including sweets, toffees, chocolates, chewing gums and fizzy drinks. Less obvious foods to avoid include are hard/tough foods such as toast and crusty bread. Be careful when biting into 'hard' fruit like apples.
Soreness Caused from Braces
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 will usually last for a 4 to 5 days. You can alleviate your discomfort by taking mild to moderate analgesia such as Paracetamol. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. This tenderness can be minimised by putting wax over the braces. If the wax is accidentally swallowed, don’t worry as it is harmless. If you need more wax, please contact.
Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose or poking. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your braces comes off, be sure to save it and bring it with you as some parts can be reused.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Take Care of Your Braces
Damaged braces can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your braces. Allowing your braces to remain damaged for an extended period of time may disrupt your treatment plan. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other braces prescribed.
Playing Sports with Braces
Game, Set, Match and great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your braces.
In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and braces for damage immediately. If you notice any loose teeth or braces damage, please contact us right away.
Oral hygiene and visiting the dentist during orthodontic treatment
Oral hygiene is extremely important during orthodontic treatment.
It is very important that you continue to visit your family dentist once every six months, even during your orthodontic treatment, for teeth cleanings and routine dental checkups.