Life with braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s crucial to know how to take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

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, soft vegetables, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, oranges, berries
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Brushing and Flossing

When you 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!
To relieve the pain, 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, but do not swallow the salt water.
You can also try taking a pain reliever like Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
It is not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
If your teeth begin to feel 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.
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so 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 fix the loose wire temporarily by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire carefully and gently back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over it to relieve the pain.
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you wear the rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances consistently as prescribed by Dr. Groves.
Game, set, and match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. We provide orthodontic mouthguards free of charge to all of our patients.
In the event of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and appliances immediately for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office.

Life with braces

Foods you can eat with braces

Soreness caused by braces and appliances

Loose teeth

Loose wires and bands

Take care of your appliances

Playing sports with braces