Taking Care of Your Braces
Starting orthodontic treatment with braces is an exciting step toward achieving a healthier, more confident smile. But proper care is essential to ensure your treatment stays on track. Braces require consistent attention to keep them clean, intact, and functioning as they should. From avoiding certain foods to practicing daily oral hygiene, taking care of your braces means fewer complications, better comfort, and faster progress toward your ideal results.
Brushing and Flossing With Braces
Brushing and flossing are super important when you have braces. While our Damon ™ braces do collect less plaque and bacteria than conventional braces, you still have extra hardware in your mouth to work around. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your braces and teeth sparkling clean and healthy:
- Brush in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before bed using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head. Electric and sonic toothbrushes are perfectly safe to use as well when brushing with braces.
- If you’re not home and you get food stuck in your braces, use an interdental brush to gently dislodge it.
- Rinsing your mouth out really well with water until you’re able to brush again is another good way to get rid of food and also keeps sugar from sitting on your teeth.
- Floss your teeth at least once daily. Use a floss threader or orthodontic flosser to make things easier.
- Continue to see your regular dentist every six months.
Eating With Braces
You may have heard from friends and family members that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in braces treatment. That’s true – if your favorite food is hard candy.
In reality, you can still eat most of the foods you love as long you steer clear of anything that could cause you to lose a bracket, break a wire or get a bunch of sticky food stuck in your braces.
When you first get your braces put on and sometimes after appointments, your teeth can be slightly sensitive. If that’s the case, sticking with soft foods and cold foods and drinks, such as mashed potatoes, smoothies, oatmeal, ice water, soup and yogurt, is a good idea until you feel ready to resume your normal eating habits.
Foods You Can Eat With Braces
Fortunately, there are still plenty of delicious and nutritious foods that are braces-friendly. Choose softer options that don’t require much chewing or risk getting stuck:
- 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 veggies, beans
- Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake
These foods are gentle on your brackets and wires, easy to clean, and still provide the nutrition your body needs during treatment.
Foods to Avoid With Braces
Some foods can damage your braces or make cleaning much more difficult. To avoid broken brackets or bent wires, steer clear of:
- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum (sugar-free gum is okay)
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Being mindful of your diet not only protects your braces but also helps you stay on schedule with your treatment plan.
Living With Braces
Adapting to life with braces goes beyond what you eat and how you brush. It also means adjusting your daily habits and learning how to handle common issues. Discomfort is normal during the first few days and after adjustments. Over-the-counter pain relief and orthodontic wax can make things more comfortable. If you play sports, be sure to wear a mouthguard to protect your braces and your smile.
Staying hydrated and rinsing with water throughout the day helps keep your mouth clean between brushings. And most importantly, attend all scheduled appointments with your orthodontist. These visits are essential for monitoring your progress, making adjustments, and ensuring your treatment stays on track.
Although living with braces requires some changes, the reward is well worth it—a straight, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.