When you begin wearing braces you may need to make a few adjustments in your day-to-day life to keep your braces and other orthodontic appliances in good condition. While these adjustments may sometimes be frustrating, they will help ensure that your treatment progresses as planned. Our caring orthodontist and team will review these adjustments with you at the start of your treatment, and we encourage you to call Daghlian Pediatric Dentistry & Sokolowski Orthodontics and speak with us if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help you achieve the smile of your dreams, and are committed to working one-on-one with you to reach your smile goals and give you a treatment that is comfortable as well as high-quality.
Wearing Braces & Eating
There are some foods that we recommend you avoid while wearing braces, as they can damage your appliance. These include:
- Chewy foods – such as bagels and licorice
- Crunchy foods – such as popcorn, ice and chips
- Sticky foods – caramels, chewing gum etc.
- Hard foods – nuts, hard candies etc.
- Foods that require biting into – such as corn on the cob, raw carrots and uncut apples
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces
Brushing and flossing can be tricky while wearing braces. However, it is important that you take good care of your teeth so that you can avoid problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. If you are wearing braces, we encourage you to:
- Brush your teeth at least three times a day – you should brush after every meal, and if you eat a sugary snack between meals, we recommend you brush at that time as well.
- Use an interproximal brush to clean around the brackets and wires.
- Floss daily – we recommend using a floss threader to make it easier to floss behind the wire of your brackets.
- Rinse your teeth with water each time you clean them. Depending on your oral health, our orthodontist may recommend a specialized rinse.
- Pay close attention to the list of foods our orthodontist and team recommend that you avoid.
Soreness & Discomfort
When you begin wearing braces your teeth and mouth may feel tender or sore for a few days, and you may experience some irritation to your lips, cheeks and tongue for a week or so. Your mouth will adjust, and these sensations should go away. Our orthodontist can provide you with wax to put over your braces to help relieve irritation, tenderness or other discomfort. You may also experience some discomfort after your braces are adjusted – this will also subside within a day or so. If you experience significant or persistent discomfort, please call our office and our orthodontist and team will meet with you as soon as possible to resolve the problem.
Loose Teeth
Your teeth may sometimes feel a little loose as your treatment progresses. Don’t worry, this is normal, and is caused by the movement of your teeth as they are repositioned. Your teeth will stop feeling loose after they have achieved their correct positions in your mouth.
Loose Wires & Bands
Call our office immediately if your wires or bands come loose or break off. We will meet with you as soon as possible to make adjustments and get your treatment back on track. If any pieces of your appliance break off, please save them and bring them with you.
Caring For Orthodontic Appliances
Damaged appliances slow down the progress of your treatment, increasing the amount of time you spend wearing braces. Please take good care of your braces and other orthodontic appliances and wear them as directed.
Sports & Musical Instruments
You can still play sports and musical instruments while wearing braces. We recommend that you wear a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, gums and appliances during athletic activities. Musical instruments played with your mouth may require you to make a few adjustments to your technique, but ultimately your braces should not hinder you in playing your instrument.
Make An Appointment
Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Sokolowski and learn more about life with braces in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, California!