All About Braces Care Tips and What to Expect
Wearing braces is a journey toward a healthier, straighter smile, and taking care of your teeth during this time is more important than ever. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your braces and handling common questions along the way.
Brushing and Flossing With Braces
Keeping your teeth and gums clean during orthodontic treatment is essential to avoid cavities and gum disease. Braces make brushing and flossing more challenging, so it’s important to adjust your routine to protect your smile.
Brush thoroughly after every meal, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Floss daily with floss threaders or special orthodontic floss to clean between your teeth and underwires.
Patients with a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist for additional care during treatment.
Watch our recommended videos below to learn the best techniques for brushing and flossing with braces.
Eating With Braces and What to Expect
One of the most common questions is, “What can I eat with braces?” Here’s what you should know:
First few days after an adjustment: Stick to soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies.
Protect your braces: Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy foods that can damage your brackets and wires.
Foods to Avoid:
Chewy: Taffy, gummy bears, pizza crust
Crunchy: Pretzels, tortilla chips
Sticky: Fruit snacks, toffee
Hard: Ice cubes, jawbreakers
Bite-into: Pears, whole apples, crusty bread
Also, avoid chewing on non-food items like pens, pencils, or fingernails to prevent damage. Broken braces can prolong your treatment and require extra visits.
Managing General Soreness
It’s normal to experience soreness for 3 to 5 days after getting your braces or following an adjustment. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue might feel irritated as they get used to the new appliances.
Over-the-counter pain relief like Tylenol can help.
Use orthodontic wax (which we provide) to cover brackets or wires causing irritation. This simple step eases discomfort quickly.
What About Loosening Teeth?
You might notice your teeth feel a bit loose during treatment; don’t worry! This is a normal part of the process. Teeth must loosen slightly to shift into their new, correct positions. Once treatment is complete, your teeth will settle firmly.
Handling Loose Wires or Bands
Occasionally, wires or bands may come loose. If a wire pokes or irritates your mouth:
Try gently pushing it back under the archwire using a blunt object like the eraser end of a pencil (only if comfortable doing so).
Apply orthodontic wax or wet cotton over the wire to reduce irritation.
Contact our office promptly to schedule a repair appointment.
Rubber Bands and Why Wearing Them Matters
Success with braces depends on teamwork between you and Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez. Rubber bands help guide your teeth and jaws into proper alignment.
Wear your rubber bands exactly as instructed.
Skipping or inconsistent wear can delay treatment and affect your results.
Your cooperation ensures the best and fastest outcome.
Playing Sports With A Mouthguard
If you play contact sports, tell us! We’ll provide a custom protective mouthguard to keep your teeth and braces safe during play. Wearing a mouthguard can help prevent injuries to your lips, cheeks, and mouth. It’s important to stay active while protecting your orthodontic progress.
