The Art of Eating with Braces

For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Before long, you'll be able to eat your normal foods again. However, there are some foods that you'll need to avoid in order to protect your orthodontic appliances.

Examples of Foods to Avoid:

Rubbing of Braces on Lips and Cheeks

When you first get your braces, they may rub on your lips and cheeks. Place wax over the rubbing bracket before these spots get raw and painful. The skin will soon toughen up so that you don't need wax.

General Soreness

Your teeth may be a little tender when you first get your new appliances. However, this soreness will get better within a few days. If the tenderness is severe, you can take Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or any pain reliever that you normally take for headache or discomfort.

Loosening of Teeth

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—straight—positions.

Care of Appliances

Athletics

If you play contact sports, it's important for you to wear a mouth guard. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone our office for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.

Emergency Care

Many orthodontic emergencies can be taken care of at home. Please view the list below of the most common problems our patients encounter. You may be able to resolve the immediate problem, and have us permanently resolve it at a later time. If you are unable to resolve the problem, please call the office. We reserve time each day for emergency patients. If you have a problem requiring urgent treatment, please call us as early in the day as possible.

Common Orthodontic Emergencies:

• A broken bracket usually does not need to be repaired immediately, but can wait for several days or even weeks. Please call the office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment to have the wire repaired.
• A poking wire can be temporarily treated by placing a small piece of wax on the protruding wire. Orthodontic wax is always available to our patients at the office. If you are needing wax after office hours, most drug stores carry orthodontic wax. If a wire is sticking out somewhere, a fingernail clipper can be used to cut the wire.
• If you have a lost or broken retainer, we should replace it as soon as possible so that your teeth do not move.
  

Parts of Your Braces

Expander and Retainer Instructions

Retainer Instructions

• Wear your retainers exactly as Dr. Groves has instructed. Some retainers are worn full time, others only at night.
• Take your retainers out when eating, and always put retainers in their case! Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.
• Clean retainers thoroughly at least once a day with a toothbrush. Use warm, but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but they do not take the place of brushing.
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them more quickly.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, we should replace them as soon as possible so that your teeth do not move. Call the office during working hours to schedule an appointment to get a new retainer.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or if your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
• Remove retainers when swimming.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.
• With proper care, retainers can last for years!
  

Expander Instructions

• If an expander becomes loose, discontinue turning the appliance until the expander has been repaired. Sticky foods are usually the cause of a loose expander.
• Call the office to schedule an appointment to have the appliance repaired.

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