Life With Braces

For the first day or so, stick to soft foods and avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. While eating will get easier, you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances for as long as you’re wearing braces.

Foods to avoid while you have braces include:

• Chewy/Sticky foods: chewing gum, gummy bears, caramel, sticky candy bars.
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips, anything on a bone.
• Hard foods: nuts, candy, sugar cane.
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots. For some of these foods, you can change the consistency so they’re still edible with braces. For example, you may eat apples sliced into thin pieces and carrots that are cooked.

Keep in mind that it’s not just foods that you need to be careful with—chewing on hard things like pens, pencils, or fingernails can also damage your braces, and that could mean your treatment will take longer.

Throughout your treatment, you’ll feel your teeth loosen. Don’t worry: this is normal, necessary, and temporary as your teeth move into their correct positions. They’ll stabilize to normal mobility after the treatment is complete.

Occasionally, a wire or band may come loose—if it does, don’t be alarmed. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the braces. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.

If you have a protruding wire or other problem, check our list of emergency care tips (supplied in your Welcome Package).

You don’t have to give up sports just because you have braces, but it is important that you ask us about special precautions. A protective mouth-guard, for example, should be worn when playing contact sports. Also, if you should have an accident involving the face while playing sports, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, phone at once for an appointment.

Congratulations! If you’re viewing this page, it probably means that you’ve had your braces removed and your teeth are now in their proper positions. To keep them there, follow these simple rules regarding your retainer. And remember: retainers are breakable and expensive to replace, so treat them with care and they will last for years.

• Wear retainers full-time, until Dr. Law’s office instructs otherwise.
• When eating, take retainers out and put them in their case (most retainers are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants). Do not wrap them in paper towels. They will likely get tossed in the trash if you do. (We have heard many a sob story. Please do not let this happen to you!)
• Remove retainers when swimming.
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. (Pets love to chew on them!)
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

• Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste, using warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but these do not take the place of brushing.
• Initially, you may find it challenging to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to retainers faster.
• If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself. Never put Krazy Glue or other adhesive on your retainers.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.