What can I expect with braces?
It takes 24 hours for the glue on your brackets to reach its full strength, so please be very careful with new brackets and be sure to follow the list for foods to avoid. There can be some initial discomfort when braces are placed, or for a short time after braces are adjusted, but this is temporary. It usually begins around dinner time the day you get your braces on, and typically lasts about a week. Everyone experiences discomfort differently. We recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate discomfort. And remember, always wear a mouth guard when playing sports — but avoid the boil-and-bite mouth guards.
What can I expect with braces?
Getting your braces on is a painless process that typically takes about 1-2 hours. It takes 24 hours for the glue on your brackets to reach full strength, so be careful with new brackets and remember to follow the list of foods to avoid. While the process itself isn’t painful, you may feel some initial dull discomfort for the next few days as your teeth begin to shift, which is completely normal and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.
What are the parts of braces?
Understanding the different parts of braces is beneficial for your ongoing treatment, especially in situations where an emergency might arise. Check out the diagram and glossary below to learn more:
What can I eat with braces?
Eating proper foods and minimizing sugar intake are essential during orthodontic treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating or chewing hard or sticky foods. Eating certain foods will loosen braces, but you may not discover the problem until hours or days later. Loose bands, detached brackets, and bent wires can increase treatment time and may result in additional treatment fees.
What can I eat with braces?
Eating proper foods and minimizing sugar intake are essential during orthodontic treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating or chewing hard or sticky foods. Eating certain foods may loosen braces, and you may not discover the problem until hours or days later. Loose bands, detached brackets, and bent wires can increase treatment time and may result in additional treatment fees.
Foods to avoid:
- Ice
- Hard Pretzels
- Chips
- Hard Rolls
- Beef Jerky
- Suckers
- Hard Candy
- Nuts
- Ribs
- Popcorn
- Raw Carrots
- Apples*
- Gum**
- Caramel
- Sticky Candy
- Soda Pop
- Pizza Crust
- Bagels
* You CAN have if cut into small pieces.
** You CAN have sugarless gum.
Remember:
- Avoid soda pop and drinks that contain sugar. If you do eat any foods or drinks that contain high amounts of sugar, please brush your teeth immediately. If you aren’t close to a toothbrush, rinse your mouth with water.
- Cut corn off the cob.
- Whole fruits and vegetables should be cooked or cut into small pieces and eaten carefully.
- Any meat cooked on the bone can be pulled off and eaten.
- Pizza crust and bagels can be eaten if they are broken into small pieces and chewed carefully.
- Avoid chewing fingernails or anything that is hard, like pens or pencils.
- Always wear a mouth guard when playing sports — but avoid the boil-and-bite mouth guards.
How should I brush and floss with braces?
Proper brushing and flossing are important habits for everyone, and they’re an absolute MUST for anyone with braces.
While braces don’t directly cause tooth decay, they can make cleaning harder and trap food particles. Failure to properly clean your teeth while in braces could result in tooth decay, staining, and decalcification (white spots).
Maintaining proper oral hygiene helps to minimize your treatment time. Conversely, poor oral hygiene has the potential to lengthen or postpone completion with the early removal of braces.
Brushing with Braces
When brushing with braces, use a soft-bristle brush and toothpaste containing fluoride. Brush morning and before bed, as well as after every meal. If you cannot brush right away after eating, rinse well with water.
First, start by brushing your teeth exactly as you normally would, rotating the brush in a circular motion. Be sure to tilt your brush at a 45-degree angle above the bracket and brush downwards onto your teeth, right at the spot where the top half of the bracket meets the tooth, to clear all the food particles that may be trapped in your braces brackets.
Next, repeat this for the bottom half of your teeth, angling upwards where the bottom half of the bracket meets your tooth. Make sure to brush the small area of the tooth between the braces and the gum by aiming the bristles of the brush at the area where the teeth and gums meet. Brush with a soft, circular motion.
Then, brush once again as normal, making sure to reach outer, inner, and chewing surfaces, and rinse thoroughly.
Flossing with Braces
It’s important to floss carefully around each tooth at least once every day.
First, slide the floss through the wire in between two brackets.
Next, pull the floss in between the teeth.
Then, gently move the floss back and forth in a sawing motion, curving it toward each side of the tooth and gently sliding it beneath the gum.
When you are finished, free the floss from between your teeth, and then pull the full piece out of the bracket. Repeat this process for each tooth.
Additional Brushing and Flossing Tips:
- Carry a travel toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste with you so you can brush when you’re away from home. Bring along floss and an interproximal brush, too.
- If you’re in a pinch and are not in a position to brush after eating or drinking, at the very least, rinse with plain water. It can help you get rid of some food particles or traces of beverages.
What if I have an emergency?
There are a variety of orthodontic problems you may experience in between visits, like loose brackets, poking wires or misplaced/broken aligners. These problems are very common, so if one of these issues happens to you, don’t panic. Here are some instructions on what to do in case of an emergency.