Life With Braces

Life With Braces

Eating with braces

For the first day or so of braces, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again!

Avoid:

  • Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, and chips…
  • Sticky chewy foods: Toffee, gum, and licorice…
  • Hard foods: Nuts, hard candy…
  • Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, and carrots…
  • Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces.
  • These types of foods will damage your braces and wires and prolong your treatment!

Eating with braces

For the first day or so of braces, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again!

Avoid:

  • Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, and chips…
  • Sticky chewy foods: Toffee, gum, and licorice…
  • Hard foods: Nuts, hard candy…
  • Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, and carrots…
  • Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces.
  • These types of foods will damage your braces and wires and prolong your treatment!

Brushing your teeth with braces

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to their dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a Periodontist during Orthodontic treatment.

Please view the following educational videos on How to brush your teeth.

Brushing your teeth with braces

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to their dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a Periodontist during Orthodontic treatment.

Please view the following educational videos on How to brush your teeth.

Speech and Braces

Will it affect my Speech?
No. Braces do not interfere with speech, but removable braces may need a few days of adaptation before your speech is back to normal.

Speech and Braces

Will it affect my Speech?
No. Braces do not interfere with speech, but removable braces may need a few days of adaptation before your speech is back to normal.

Sports and Braces

The damage caused by a ball, collision or elbow to the face can be devastating often resulting in serious injury and a lifetime of oral health issues. In fact, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in  children aged 12 – 17 years old according to the Center for Disease Control, USA.

Mouth guards worn during sports can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries caused by a collision or fall. For athletes with braces, there are special ‘orthodontic’ mouth guards that are worn over braces

Sports and Braces

The damage caused by a ball, collision or elbow to the face can be devastating often resulting in serious injury and a lifetime of oral health issues. In fact, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in  children aged 12 – 17 years old according to the Center for Disease Control, USA.

Mouth guards worn during sports can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries caused by a collision or fall. For athletes with braces, there are special ‘orthodontic’ mouth guards that are worn over braces

Loose wires or braces

Don’t be alarmed if a wire or a brace becomes loose. This may happen if you’ve been eating the wrong kind of food or applying pressure with your fingers on your braces.

If a wire protrudes and is irritating, please place wax on the wire to reduce the annoyance.

Call our office as soon as possible for an emergency appointment to check and repair the appliances.

Loose wires or braces

Don’t be alarmed if a wire or a brace becomes loose. This may happen if you’ve been eating the wrong kind of food or applying pressure with your fingers on your braces.

If a wire protrudes and is irritating, please place wax on the wire to reduce the annoyance.

Call our office as soon as possible for an emergency appointment to check and repair the appliances.