Living with Braces

What can you eat?

Mostly, what can’t you eat?

During the first few days, it’s best to eat soft foods which are easy to chew. Later on you’ll be able to eat pretty much anything, taking care of your appliance. So what does this mean? Ask yourself the two following questions before putting food in your mouth :

●      is it hard? If the answer is yes, cut it before eating  and DO NO BITE ON IT. If it impossible to cut it (e.g.: peanuts, solid bread crust, bones), do not eat it

●      is it sticky? If the answer is yes, suck it. If you can’t (e.g. dry sausage, carambar…), then you mustn’t eat it

 

To avoid (non-exhaustive list) :

  • chewing on foods which are very sticky (chewing gum, sticky candy, caramels, nougat…)
  • crunchy food: popcorn, chips
  • small and hard food: nuts, hard caramel
  • chewable food: uncut apple, corn, a chicken’s thigh, raw carrot
  • fiddling with the appliance: with your hands, pens, nail biting

disrupting the appliance can slow down treatment process.

Pain

When braces get bonded, it doesn’t hurt. Only after 2 hours teeth become sensitive to pressure. This lasts 3 to 7 days according to patient. Having your usual painkillers for pain or headache it goes away very quickly (aspirin, advil, paracetamol etc). Lips and cheeks might be irritated for 1 to 2 weeks to totally unfel the appliance.. By putting dental wax on parts of rubbing parts of appliance, things get smoother. We will show you how to use it.

Tooth movement

is totally normal during a treatment. Don’t worry. Teeth need to be slightly shaky to be moved. Each tooth becomes stable as soon as treatment is finished and when they are in a balanced position.

 

Loose brace or distorted archwire

When a brace is loose( debonded) or archwire distorted wire comes out of the brace, don’t worry. It happens sometimes when chewing on food. If ever an archwire comes out, push it softly back with tip of an eraser. Or you just put wax on it. Call us quickly so that we can adjust it. If you are far away, any closest general dentist should be able to grind or cut what is disturbing. We will then fix everything once you come back.

Our home made videos are also available to help you. Click here to consult them. If a brace gets loose, there is no use in getting it rebonded. Each orthodontist has his own technique. The closest general dentist can remove it if it is bothering you. As soon as you are back, call us so that we can tell you if your next appointment should be adjusted or not.

Appliance care

For the treatment to be successful, the patient must work hand to hand with his orthodontist.

Teeth and jaws can move smoothly towards their ideal position if the appliance doesn’t get broken or if elastics or any other device is compliantly worn as prescribed.

Any damage on the appliance may extend treatment time.

Tooth brushing

It is even more important that usually to brush teeth properly when wearing fixed appliances like braces. Microbes have many more places where to hide. Good brushing allows teeth to move smoothly surrounded by healthy gums, friction free (no dirt on the archwires) and therefore quicker. Patients who have difficulties controlling microbes need to come more often to the dental clinic for coaching sessions on tooth brushing. Adults with periodontal problems (bone or gum disease) should be monitored at the same time by a periodontist throughout orthodontic treatment.

Playing Sports

If you play a sport where you might receive shocks (ball sports, fighting sports) we will provide you with a special mouth guard. Please let us know.

Any mouthgards which needs to be softened in hot water should be avoided.

This website gives access to general information about orthodontic treatments. It is not meant to replace personal patient / practitioner relationship that you will get in our clinic.