Congratulations! Now that you have your braces, it is essential for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic journey.

Eating With Braces

Not to worry, you’ll soon be munching on popcorn and snacking on your favorite potato chips again! But, before that, you will need to take extra care to stay away from any foods that could damage or break your new appliances such as braces.

Foods You Can Eat With Braces

  • Dairy: Soft Cheese, Pudding, Milk-based drinks
  • Breads: Soft tortillas, Pancakes, Muffins without Nuts
  • Grains: Pasta, Soft cooked rice
  • Meats / Poultry: Soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood: Tuna, Salmon, Crab Cakes
  • Vegetables: Mashed potatoes, Steamed spinach, Beans
  • Fruits: Applesauce, Bananas, Fruit Juice
  • Treats: Ice Cream without Nuts, Milkshakes, Jell-O, Soft cakes

Foods That Should Be Avoided With Braces

  • Chewy Foods: Bagels, Licorice, Taffy, etc.
  • Crunchy Foods: Popcorn, Chips, Ice, Hard Taco Shells
  • Sticky foods: Caramel candies, Chewing Gum, etc.
  • Hard foods: Nuts, Hard Candies, etc.
  • Foods that require biting into: Corn on the Cob, Apples, Carrots

Soreness Caused From Braces And Appliances

When you first get your braces, your mouth and teeth might feel a little tender or sore. Don’t worry this is perfectly normal and we guarantee your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for about one to two minutes.

If the pain persists after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever such as Advil. It is also not rare for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces or lingual braces. You can use wax over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

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 correct 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. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place.

Taking Care Of Your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment. Your teeth and jaw 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 in Alpharetta

We have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

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