Braces 101

Life With Braces

When you first get your braces, it can feel like a big change. Luckily, with proper care, it’s easy to live with braces, and you won’t have to change your lifestyle too much! With a few minor adjustments, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful, healthy smile in no time.

However, it’s important to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment to ensure a straight, beautiful smile — and the shortest treatment time! Read below for tips from Dr. Ahrens about living with and adjusting to life with braces.

Eating with Braces

Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Dairy

Soft Cheese, Pudding, Milk-based Drinks

Grains

Pasta, Soft cooked rice

Seafood

Tuna, Salmon, Crab cakes

Fruits

Applesauce, Bananas, Fruit juice

Apples

Cut into small pieces

Breads

Soft Tortillas, Pancakes, Muffins w/o nuts

Meats / Poultry

Soft cooked chicken, Meatballs, Lunch meats

Vegetables

Mashed potatoes, Steamed spinach, Beans

Treats

Ice cream w/o nuts, Milkshakes, Jell-O, Soft cake

Chewy foods

Bagels, Licorice

Crunchy foods

Popcorn, Chips, Ice

Sticky foods

Caramel candies, Chewing gum

Hard foods

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Foods that require biting into

Corn on the cob, Apples, Carrots

Soreness caused by braces and appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal for patients, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. If you need more wax, please let us know!

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match! We have great news for athletes — you can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. The Game On Mouthguard is the first mouthguard to be accepted by the American Dental Association in the history of mouthguards and promises the best protection, the best fit, the best material.