Wearing / Caring For Your Braces

Problem Foods and Helpful Tips

Eating proper foods, minimizing sugar intake and getting enough sleep are essential during orthodontic treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating hard foods. Some soft and sticky foods can cause tooth decay and loosen or dislodge your braces.

Forbidden hard foods:
Hard candy Corn chips Popcorn Jerky	Ice Nuts Pizza crust Corn on the cob

Whole fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots should be cooked or cut into small pieces and eaten carefully.

Forbidden soft foods:
Bubble gum Gum (as directed by your orthodontist) Sticky candy Starbursts Sugar Daddies	Tootsie Rolls Gummy Bears Caramels Taffy

Avoid soda pop and soft drinks that contain sugar. Use common sense when choosing food to put in  your mouth and avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens or pencils.
 

It is your job to keep your teeth and braces spotlessly clean!

If you have problems with your braces refer to this diagram so you can accurately describe the problem when you call our office.

1. Bracket The attachment bonded to the tooth or welded to the band 2. Archwire A large removable wire that fits around the arch into the bracket slots 3. Elastic Ligature Plastic ring that ties the archwire into the bracket or Ligature Wire - Tiny wire that ties archwire into bracket 4. Hooks Used to attach elastics (rubber bands) 5. Band A ring of metal with the bracket attached  that is glued to the tooth ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem	Solution
Loose band or bracket	The seal created by the cement (glue) has been broken. Call our office and schedule an appointment. If band or bracket detaches from wire, save it and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Broken archwire or headgear, lost ligature or hook	These problems could cause the teeth to shift in the wrong direction and must be corrected as soon as possible. Call our office and schedule an appointment.
Sticker	That is the term for a wire that sticks out and causes irritation. Try tucking it in with the eraser part of a pencil. If that doesn't work, dry it with a napkin and place wax over the wire to prevent further sticking.
Soreness	To relieve soreness, rinse your mouth with warm salt water and/or take Advil or Tylenol as directed.