Braces & Orthodontic Appliances 101

Eating with Braces

The number one question dental patients have is What can I eat with braces? It’s easier for us to explain what you can’t eat. During the first couple days, stick to soft foods only. Avoid tough foods like cooked meat, veggies, and hard breads. You'll need to keep your orthodontic appliances safe when you eat for as long as you're wearing them. After all, they are a major worth-while investment!

Foods which could damage your orthodontic appliances:

• Tough and hard foods: bagels, vegetables, cooked meat
• Crunchy extra hard foods: popcorn, ice, and chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Foods you must bite into: corn, apples, chicken wings
• Non-food items (pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage your braces. Damaged braces will cause your treatment to take longer, and your orthodontist won’t be impressed!

Soreness of the gums

When your braces are made, many patients feel a general soreness in the mouth and their teeth may be tender to biting pressures for about a week. This is common, and can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water – just like Buckley’s, it’s not tasty but it works! Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If your tenderness is severe, take a pain relief medicine like Tylenol. The inside of your mouth, including your lips, cheeks and tongue may also be irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen up and become accustomed to your braces. Wax may also be put on the braces to lessen this pain.

Loose Teeth

Loose teeth are a common occurrence throughout treatment. Please don't worry, it's normal. Teeth must first loosen so they can be realigned. The teeth will again become fixed in place of their corrected positions.

Loose Band or Wire

Similar to loose teeth, don't be alarmed if a band or wire comes loose, this is common. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil and gently and carefully push the irritating wire under the archwire. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office asap for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece falls off, keep it safe and bring it with you to our clinic.

Caring for your orthodontic appliances

To successfully complete treatment, the patient must work together with our Hamilton orthodontist. Teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the elastics, headgear or other appliances as prescribed by the orthodontist. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.

Brushing your orthodontic appliances

It's extremely important to brush and floss every day when you have braces, so your teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Our Hamilton patients who do not keep their teeth clean require more visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during their orthodontic treatment.

Athletics and orthodontics

If you’re active in playing sports, which many of us are, it's important that you talk to us for special precautions. A special mouth guard for sports is advised for playing contact sports. If you have an accident, check your mouth and the appliances immediately after. If your teeth are loosened or the appliances may have damage, call us right away an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.