Life With Braces

Getting Used to Life With Braces

Below, you'll find information to help you keep your braces functioning properly and without discomfort. Contact Dieguez Smiles Orthodontics to schedule an appointment and learn more about life with braces today!

Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances

Your mouth will feel sore and tender for a few days after you first begin wearing braces. This discomfort is expected and should go away within a week. To relieve pain, our orthodontist recommends you dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water and swish/gargle this solution for a few minutes. You may also take a mild pain reliever like ibuprofen. If your pain persists longer than a few days, please contact our office so we can adjust your braces.

Your tongue, cheeks, and lips may also be irritated while you adjust to wearing braces. You can ask our team for wax to place over your braces to reduce tenderness and irritation.

Loose Teeth

Your teeth may feel slightly loose while you wear braces. This is because braces function by loosening your teeth enough to move them into the proper positions. At the completion of your treatment, your teeth will no longer be loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

Your wires and bands might occasionally come loose. If this happens, reach out to our office as soon as possible for repairs. If a piece of your appliance breaks off, bring it to your appointment. If a loose wire is irritating your mouth, place a piece of wax or a wet cotton ball over it to relieve any pain.

Taking Care of Your Appliances

It is crucial that you take care of your orthodontic appliances. Damaged appliances can extend the length of your treatment. Consistently wear your rubber bands, elastics, headgear, retainer, or other appliances as your orthodontist prescribes so that your teeth and jaws can be moved into the correct positions.

Playing Sports with Braces

You can continue to play sports with braces! Braces will not hinder your day-to-day life. We do recommend wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth, lips, gums, jaw, and appliance from damage. If you have a sports emergency, immediately check your mouth for any loose teeth or damage to your braces. If you notice any damage, contact our office right away.

Eating With Braces

When you're wearing braces, you need to be careful of the foods you eat! Certain foods can cause damage to your braces and appliances, or get caught in between your wires, increasing your risk of cavities and decay. Find out which foods to avoid and what you can eat below, or call us at (205) 258-0750 for more information! 

Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces

• Chewy foods – bagels or licorice
• Crunchy foods – popcorn, chips, or ice
• Sticky foods – caramel candies and chewing gum
• Hard foods – nuts and hard candies
• Foods that have to be bitten into – apples, carrots, and corn on the cob

Foods You Can Continue to Eat With Braces

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

Drinks to Avoid With Braces

It is recommended to avoid drinks that are high in sugars and acid, like soda, juice, and energy drinks, because of the way sugar and acid can cling around your braces and increase your risk of decay or cavities. If you do drink one of these beverages, please brush your teeth immediately afterward.