Life with Braces
STOKED ABOUT YOUR BRACES?
Let’s talk about how to take care of them so we can keep those teeth healthy!
ORAL HYGIENE
We are going to start here since this is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of keeping those teeth healthy! The first matter of business is to make sure you still go to see the dentist for your regular cleanings twice a year! Sometimes, patients will find it helpful to add a third cleaning per year while they are in active treatment. We always love professional dental cleanings! Let’s talk about some oral hygiene techniques that will be a little different now that you have braces.
BRUSHING
Typically it is recommended to brush twice a day: once in the morning and once at night before going to bed. With braces, we are going to recommend that you brush a THIRD time during the day. We give all of our patients an electric toothbrush sine they are great at getting all the hard to reach places! Make sure to angle your toothbrush around the braces and brush those gums!
FLOSSING
Flossing with braces is a whole new experience! Traditional flossing techniques have be modified due to the wire that connects your braces together. There are several types of floss that help with braces, you just have to find the one that works best for you! We provide patients with several samples of each! It is important tomake sure you floss above and below the wire.
OTHER HELPFUL TOOLS
Patients with braces often find some other oral hygiene tools to be helpful when cleaning their teeth. Inter- dental brushes are small, Christmas tree shaped brushes, that are really helpful at getting between the braces and the wires! A lot of patients also ask about water flossers. They are a great tool to help power wash your mouth. They can get to a lot of areas! You do not have to run out and buy a water flosser since string floss will do the trick but the water flossers are a little more fun so whatever motivates you to floss,we are here to support!
KEEPING THINGS COMFORTABLE
Fortunately, there are very few emergencies in orthodontic treatment. If you ever have a question we always have a team member on call for you! Most of the time, there are some things you can do from home to help keep you comfortable until we see you in the office to repair anything that might be broken or bothersome! Here are some tips to use at home:
BROKEN BRACKET
If your brace happens to fall off your tooth, it will likely remain on the wire unless it is one of your very back teeth. If you think you might have swallowed a brace, not to worry - it happens! If a brace breaks off and it is bothering you, try your best to dry off the area with a paper towel or cotton roll, roll up a piece of dental wax, and use it to secure the brace to the tooth to prevent it from moving around!
LONG WIRE
There are a few ways wires can get long. Sometimes the back brace falls off, other times it is because the teeth are moving and spaces are closing! If this were to happen, often times in the beginning phases of treatment, these wires can be cut with cuticle scissors or nail clippers! As we progress through treatment, some of our final wires are a little harder to cut at home. We can help you out in the office, but be sure tocuse the wax to help in the meantime!
TOOTH DISCOMFORT
This is everyone’s favorite question...is it going to hurt? The actual process to put braces on is super simple and painless! Once the teeth start moving (about 24-72 hours after braces are placed) it is common to feel a little soreness in the mouth. Nothing should be painful, it is as if your teeth just ran a marathon for the first time! Some patients will tolerate this transition well and not require any additional medications. If needed, you can give Tylenol, Advil or Morin (Tylenol and Motrin are typically better for tooth related discomfort). Be sure to check for any drug allergies before administering! If there are any cuts or sores in the mouth, the wax will help along with warm, salt water rinses!
MY SEPARATOR FELL OUT?
Some of our patients start out their treatment with little separators between their teeth to prepare to special appliances. These little separators help to make the space needed to fit these appliances at your next visit. If they happen to fall out, don’t sweat it! Just give us a call so we can let you know if you need to come back and have them replaced.
ONO GRINDS
“Ono grinds” is a term used by Native Hawaiians to describe foods that they love! We are going to talk about ono grinds for braces and then those that you have to modify or avoid eating while in treatment!
Some of the best ono grinds for braces are those that are not hard, sticky, or chewy! Things like ice cream, pasta, mac and cheese, pudding, soup, rice, etc. Some of these foods might be your best friend for the first few days after getting your braces on, and that’s okay! We promise, you will get used to them in no time!
More importantly, we have to talk about some of the foods that are not so kind to your braces and will risk breaking them off your teeth! Here are some common foods you might have to modify or avoid:
MODIFIED FOODS
Raw fruits & vegetables: Be careful biting into raw carrots, celery, apples, etc. It is best to either cut them up small or cook them!
Meat on the bone: You can still enjoy all your favorite chicken wings, you just have to take the meat off the bone first. Don’t bite down into them—the bone could break your braces!
Corn on the cob: Everyone’s favorite summer food! You can still eat it, but you have to cut the corn off the cob with a knife. Trust us, you don’t want to bite into corn on the cob with braces.
Popcorn & chips: You can still eat popcorn, just avoid the kernels and watch out for hard chips!
FOODS TO AVOID
Sticky, chewy candy: Anything with caramel is not going to be kind to your braces. You also have to avoid all gummy candies! We also recommend avoiding gummy vitamins with braces, but if they are the only option, make sure to be really careful.
Gum: Chewing gum is very bad for your braces! Not only can gum cause your braces to pop off, but it can also get stuck inside your braces and interfere with the movement of your teeth.
Pizza crust: Here in NJ, we would never tell you to avoid pizza! But if you get a really hard piece of crust, you might have to leave it behind for a little bit.
Nuts: Raw nuts are another food group you need to avoid with braces. You might have to stick to the butter versions (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter) while in treatment.
YOU got this!
We are here for you! If you need anything, do not hesitate to reach out to us at the office!
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Enjoy a Complimentary Orthodontic Consultation for anyone 7+.
Call 732-639-0011 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.