 What can you eat? Let's talk about what you
shouldn't eat! If you've been wanting to drop a few pounds, the
first week wearing braces is just your chance! For the first
day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads,
and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite a
cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic
appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
- Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails)
can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment
to take longer.
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness
in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for
three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth
with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of
salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously.
If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for
headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated
for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface
of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this.
We'll show you how!
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's
normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The
teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions.
Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens
occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use
a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil)
and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the
archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to
the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on
the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as
possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances.
If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to
the office.
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient
must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and
jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if
the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear
or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen
the treatment time.
It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly
when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy
after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their
teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist
for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history
of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic
treatment.
If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for
special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for
playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving
the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If
teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for
an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you
would treat any general soreness.
Top
|
Brushing