Starting your journey with braces puts you on the path to creating your beautiful smile! Our team is here to support you every step of the way throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontics has advanced tremendously to allow for more discreet, comfortable and in some cases expedited treatment solutions. We are pleased to offer a selection of treatment options best suited for your individual needs.
Eating with braces
During orthodontic treatment there are certain foods that should be avoided, so not to damage your appliance and slow treatment time. Fear not! You’ll be able to enjoy these treats soon enough.
| Foods to Avoid | Foods you CAN enjoy |
|---|---|
| Chewy foods — bagels, licorice | Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks |
| Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice | Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts |
| Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum | Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice |
| Hard foods — nuts, hard candies | Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats |
| Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots | Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes |
| Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans | |
| Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice | |
| Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake |
Special Care
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, headgear, retainer, or other appliances consistently as prescribed by your doctor.
Soreness & Discomfort
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore and your teeth may temporarily loosen. All of this is perfectly normal at first, and we promise your mouth will not feel sore or strange forever!
A salt water gargle is recommended to relieve sores in the mouth. Simply dissolve 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.
If the pain is more severe and does not go away, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and 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, give us a shout!
Braces giving you troubles?
You might be able to remedy it at home! Read through our FAQs.