Eating with Braces
For the first week, getting used to your braces will take some adjusting. Eating will be a bit of a challenge. Stick to soft foods; avoid eating tough meats, raw vegetables, and hard breads. After the general soreness lessens, you may widen your variety of foods. Foods to Avoid: Anything sticky, chewy, or gooey
- Ice
- Caramel Candy, Gummy Worms, Jelly Beans, and any kind of Gum
- Hard Candy, Jaw Breakers, and Tear Jerkers
- Pens, Pencils, and Fork Prongs
- Raw Vegetables: Cut these into smaller pieces
- Popcorn kernels and Nuts
- Hard Rolls and Bagels: Cut these into smaller pieces
- Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos, Tostitos, and Pretzels: Break into smaller pieces
- Ribs and Chicken Wings: Pull meat off of the bones
Oral Hygiene for Braces
It is extremely important to brush and floss more than ever with braces so that the teeth and gums are healthy after your orthodontic treatment. Brushing Instructions: Use a soft toothbrush. Using a circular motion, brush above and below the brackets, and then brush the insides and biting surfaces of teeth. Brush until the teeth and braces are sparkling clean. Take your time.
*REMEMBER: EFFORT=RESULTS
While in braces, continue to visit your dentist for your regular cleanings. For these visits, remember to schedule an appointment with our office before your cleaning to have your archwires removed, and again after to replace them.