Congratulations! So you’ve made a choice to get a beautiful and healthy smile with a set of braces for your orthodontic treatment in Sacramento, CA. There are lots you should ask your orthodontist about maintaining your braces clean, what you should eat, and generally what to expect about life with braces, but don’t worry; in case you forgot to ask something in particular, we should have you covered right here.

It’s crucial for us that our patients know how to take care properly of their braces and maintain good dental health while avoiding as much discomfort as possible, so check out this neat little guide we’ve prepared.

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them?

It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

WHAT CAN I EAT WITH BRACES?

Don’t worry too much about it; these are some recommendations you should follow only during your treatment. You’ll be back to snacking on popcorn, BBQ ribs, and your favorite dishes in no time.

However, you should note that to avoid damaging your braces and increasing the risk of tooth decay, you’ll have to avoid some dietary choices.

Don’t worry too much about it; these are some recommendations you should follow only during your treatment. You’ll be back to snacking on popcorn, BBQ ribs, and your favorite dishes in no time.

However, you should note that to avoid damaging your braces and increasing the risk of tooth decay, you’ll have to avoid some dietary choices.

FOODS YOU CAN EAT WITH BRACES:

  • Dairy products: soft or spreadable cheese and cheese products, pudding, milk-based drinks.
  • Breads: soft flour tortillas for burritos and wraps, waffles and pancakes, cupcakes, cake, and soft loaf bread.
  • Pasta dishes.
  • Soft white rice.
  • Mashed potatoes.
  • Meat: soft-cooked chicken and meatballs.
  • Fish and Seafood: steamed or oven-baked fish, crab cakes, and canned tuna.
  • Vegetables: steamed leafy greens, beans, and purées.
  • Fruits: applesauce, bananas, fruit juice, and blended fruits.

FOODS TO AVOID WITH BRACES:

  • Chewy foods: licorice and bagels.
  • Crunchy foods: hard taco shells, chips, popcorn.
  • Sticky foods: chewing gum, soft caramels, taffy.
  • Foods that require biting into: apples, nuts, and corn on the cob.
  • Fibrous vegetables: celery.

ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES

Although rare, you may find yourself alarmed due to any of the following situations:

SORENESS CAUSED BY BRACES AND APPLIANCES

So; this encompasses several situations. First of all, we want you to know that all patients should expect some level of discomfort when they start their treatment with braces or any other orthodontic appliance.

The movements and force required to complete your treatment will make your mouth feel a little tender. We promise you this feeling will go away after just a couple of days following each adjustment.

Relieving yourself from the pain is simple. Aside from over-the-counter painkillers, you can use saltwater rinses. Simply dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a glass with eight ounces of lukewarm water. Then, it’s just a matter of swishing and gargling with this solution. Please keep in mind to NOT swallow the water.

You might notice a sensation of irritation as well on the inside of your cheeks, lips, or tongue. The saltwater rinses will also help with this. And you can ask your orthodontist to give you some orthodontic wax to cover your brackets and avoid worsening the irritation.

LOOSE TEETH

Aside from the soreness and pain, you’ll feel that your teeth feel loose. This is normal, as your teeth have to loosen up a bit before the braces can safely move them into the right position. Once the teeth reach their intended position with the proper alignment, you won’t feel your teeth being loose.

LOOSE WIRES AND BANDS OR LOOSE BRACKETS

Sometimes, some patients will eat something that doesn’t fully damage their appliance but may create some problems. The wires and bands on your braces may come loose, and if that happens, you should contact us at your earliest convenience to check and repair the orthodontic appliance. Try to save any pieces that come off so we may take a look at them.

Any loose wires poking the inside of your cheeks don’t have to remain so. A temporary and DIY fix is simple when you use the back of a spoon or any other blunt object, such as an eraser at the back of a pencil, to carefully push and tuck the wire back into place. Likewise, you can put some orthodontic wax over the wire to keep it from poking at you. It’s important these wires and bands remain in their correct positions to make your treatment as efficient as possible.

It’s also possible your brackets come off due to leftover food pieces in your mouth or a wrong choice of food. You can slide those brackets into the right place until you can come to the office for a more definitive solution.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BRACES AND CLEAR ALIGNERS

BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH BRACES

You have to take great care to properly brush your teeth and keep good oral hygiene during your treatment to avoid problems related to tooth decay and cavities. You’ll have to angle your toothbrush down a bit and at a 45-degree angle to brush each tooth as thoroughly as required.

Please remember to use dental floss and consider complementing the practice with an interdental brush or water irrigator to completely do away with any leftover food particles caught in between your teeth.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR APPLIANCES

If you have damaged appliances, you can suffer some accidents and lengthen your treatment unnecessarily. Please take proper care of your orthodontic appliance and remember to use any prescribed rubber bands, headgear, additional retainer, and any attachments that ensure proper treatment efficiency.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CLEAR ALIGNER

You can clean your aligners with water and non-abrasive toothpaste. You can also consider using liquid soap with your soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your appliance without damaging it. You should remove your aligner trays during mealtimes to avoid problems and increase the risk of tooth decay cavities.

PLAYING SPORTS WITH BRACES

We have great news for athletes! You won’t have to put your career or training on hold while you undergo orthodontic treatment. You can continue to play your favorite sport with braces on. We highly recommend you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and the appliance. If you have removable appliances, you can simply take them off and put them away safely in their case. Make sure you give us a call if you need to find a custom-made mouthguard for the best protection.

If you were to suffer any sports emergency, make sure to get in touch with us and check your mouth for any damage. We will gladly help you out as soon as possible.

Contact our office today for your complimentary evaluation at (916) 924-8970.