After you get braces
We do everything we can to support you after you get your braces, especially once you leave our Brooklyn office. Braces are the most common treatment in our practice for patients of all ages — from early treatment, to teens, to adults — and here are our recommendations for the first days and weeks.
Right after you get braces, you will likely notice that your teeth feel tender and sore, and that soreness may extend to other areas of your mouth. This is a normal and temporary side effect; it will ease in a couple of days. In the meantime, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of room-temperature water, take a sip, and swish and gargle for a couple of minutes without swallowing. You may also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce the soreness.
Before you leave, we give you some wax. It helps with any irritation to your lips or cheeks while the skin gets used to the braces rubbing against it — put a small piece over whatever is rubbing.
In the first couple of weeks you may feel as though some of your teeth are loosening up. That is because they are. Don’t worry — this is expected: braces have to loosen teeth to move them, and once they are repositioned they firm up again.
Caring for your appliances
Before you leave our office, your orthodontist and the team walk you through how to look after your braces, Invisalign, retainer or other appliances. It is important to build this into your daily routine, because damaged appliances can slow your treatment and lengthen it. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, retainer or other appliances your orthodontist prescribes.
If a wire or band comes loose, contact us as soon as possible so we can check and repair it, and save any piece that comes off to bring with you. You can temporarily push a loose wire back into place with the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil, and cover anything that is irritating your lips or cheeks with wax.
If you have any questions about the care of your appliances at any time — even between visits — please reach out. We are always here for you.
Everyday life with braces
We have a diverse community of patients, and we do not want braces to interfere with your everyday life or interests.
Playing sports
A common question we get is, “Can I still play sports?” Yes — please keep playing. We do recommend that you tell us which sports you play, because a mouthguard protects both your teeth and your braces. Let us know if you need help choosing one.
In the event of a sports injury, check your mouth and appliances immediately for damage or loose teeth, and contact our office right away if you see signs of either. We will give you the best next steps — whether that is managing the discomfort or coming in for an emergency repair.
Eating with braces
Perhaps the most commonly asked question. While there are a couple of categories of food we recommend you avoid, most of the food world is still completely open to you. Don’t worry — you will be eating popcorn again in no time, once the braces are off.
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 (cut them up instead)
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 and 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
Keeping everything clean matters more with braces on — see brushing and flossing.