Life With Braces

With braces on your teeth, we want to make sure that you know how to care for them properly. Throughout your orthodontic treatment, your diligence and care will have a tremendous influence on the outcome of your smile.

Eating Right with Braces

There are some foods that should be limited or avoided while you are wearing braces. Soon, you’ll be enjoying all of your favorite foods again, but for now it’s important that you make the choices that are good for your body and safe for your braces.

Avoid these foods with braces:

• Chewy foods like bagels and licorice
• Crunchy foods like popcorn, chips, or ice
• Sticky foods like caramel candies and chewing gum
• Hard foods like nuts or hard candies
• Foods that you must bite directly into like corn on the cob, apples, and carrots

Enjoy these foods with braces:

• Dairy products like soft cheese, pudding, and milk-based drinks
• Breads and grains like soft tortillas, pasta, pancakes, rice, or muffins without nuts
• Meats and poultry like chicken, meatballs, or lunch meats
• Seafood like tuna, salmon, or crab cakes
• Vegetables like mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, or beans
• Fruits like applesauce, bananas, or fruit juices
• Treats like ice cream, milkshakes, Jell-O, or cake

More Tips for Your Life with Braces

Don’t worry about teeth that feel a little loose; it’s perfectly normal! Your teeth must first loosen before they can be moved into the right position. As your treatment progresses and your teeth are aligned, they will no longer feel loose.

Always wear a mouthguard if you play sports for the protection of your teeth and your braces. We can help you to select the right mouthguard for the proper protection. If you suffer a sports emergency, check your teeth, lips, tongue, and braces for damage. If your teeth or braces have been damaged, contact our office as soon as possible.

Keep your appliances in good condition to maintain good progress. Also, follow our instructions to the best of your ability by consistently wearing your headgear, rubber bands, retainer, and other appliances.

For more insight and advice on life with braces, contact our office today.