How to Care for your New Braces
A NEW WAY TO CHEW:
It is extremely important to choose a soft diet for the first week of your new braces. Soup is the best choice for the first two days, along with yogurt, Jell-O, shakes and smoothies, or food that has been softened by a food processor. Pasta, rice, steamed or cooked vegetables, and soft fruit are great also. After a couple of weeks your diet will become a routine, but you must keep things on the soft side.
AVOIDING A BAD BITE:
Hard, sticky or chewy foods must always be avoided because they will break your appliances. This will delay your treatment and is a waste of everyone’s time and energy. The most common culprits with broken brackets are: Ice, sugar gum, hard candy, popcorn, chewy candy (such as skittles), hard chips, jerky, and apples that are not sliced. Even softer foods like pizza can cause breakage if chewed with too much enthusiasm. So be careful with your hardware throughout your treatment!
YOUR NEW CLEANING ROUTINE:
Brush, Floss, and use Fluoride. Good brushing habits while in braces are critical to the success of your new smile! Plaque that is left at the gum line can quickly lead to infected and inflamed gum tissue which will bring your tooth movement to a halt. Plaque that is left on tooth enamel will cause decalcification (permanent white spots) and tooth decay.
The following are the minimal requirements to safeguard your new “smile under construction”:
- Brush after every meal, preferably in front of a mirror.
- Floss after every meal – if this is not possible then floss thoroughly every night. Flossing with braces will take much longer so don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re too tired.
- After rinsing, Brush for at least one minute with Fluoride gel. If your teeth and gums need extra attention rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt to 8oz of warm water) before your fluoride gel.
- Avoid the really bad guys on the tooth disease scene: regular soda pop (the #1 killer), candy, and sugary foods, highly refined carbohydrates such as cake, cookies, pop-tarts, etc.
The following pictures will help you with your brushing and flossing techniques.
KEEPING COMFORTABLE:
Today’s braces are manufactured to be small and comfortable, but some patients may experience irritation on the inside of the lips and or cheeks during the first week. Covering the adjacent bracket with some wax will solve the problem. This same wax can be applied to any portion of the arch wire that is poking or sharp. Keep in mind that the wax must be applied to a dry bracket. Broken wires and loose brackets or bands can also require wax. Be sure to save anything that is broken (place in a zip-lock bag) and bring it to your next appointment. If wax does not solve the problem with a pokey wire or bracket, please call for an appointment.
Successful treatment depends on a few simple things:
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Watch what you eat
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Avoid chewing on pens/pencils
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Brush, floss and use fluoride everyday
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Keep all of your scheduled appointments
GOOD LUCK! We are all waiting to see your beautiful new
smile!