Life with braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s essential for you to know how to take care of your braces properly throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

  • Eating with braces

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

  • Foods you can eat with braces

    • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
    • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
    • Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
    • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
    • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
    • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
    • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
    • Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Foods to avoid with braces

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Take care of your appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances consistently as prescribed by Dr. Gupta.

Playing sports with braces

Game, set, and match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and appliance immediately for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can relieve the discomfort temporarily by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.

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