The first day with braces is a lot like the first day you got eyeglasses, went ice-skating, started a new musical instrument or drove a car… It sure feels strange. You cheeks and tongue are like…OMG what is all this stuff in there?
After a short time your mouth will get used to everything and learn to become friends with the brackets and wires. Now we’re not saying BFF… but it all starts to blend in.
When you have braces you have to give extra care to brushing, flossing or irrigating in order to keep your teeth clean. And you’ll also have to pay attention to the food you eat because some types of food can cause damage.
Before we put your braces on we’ll help you better understand what food are considered “braces friendly” and what kinds of food are best to avoid because they can stick to, break or knock off your braces.
Examples of foods to avoid
- Chewy foods like bagels
- Crunchy foods such as popcorn, chips, or ice
- Sticky foods like caramels or chewing gum
- Hard foods like nuts or hard candies
Some examples braces friendly foods
- Pastas, soft breads, rice and mashed potatoes
- Ice cream, cheese, yogurt and smoothies
- Fresh fish
- Raw fruits and veggies (use caution!)
- Sauteed, steamed or cooked veggies
When your braces come off there is a lot of singing, dancing, jumping and yelling YAYYYYY! Then you immediately take a huge bite out of an apple, maybe a bagel with that cream cheese with nuts in it or some fresh carrots and then go out for dinner and order some of the foods you have been dying for….Oh yeah… back to the dental details….
Once we remove your braces you’ll receive a removable appliance called a retainer that holds your teeth in their new position. By wearing the retainer you allow the tissues, meaning the bone, elastic membranes around the roots, the gums, tongue and lips to all adapt themselves to the new tooth positions. Your teeth can move if they aren’t retained so it’s extremely important to wear your retainers as directed!
