Life with Braces

Can Be Awesome

Having braces is much more comfortable than it used to be, especially when you get your braces at J. Cox Orthodontics. That’s because we offer many of the latest technologies to every patient.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS after each appointment there might be some general tenderness of your teeth and mouth. Your teeth might even feel a little loose (after all – they’re on the move). You may want to take some form of pain reliever (what you would normally take for a headache) during this time. Tenderness usually subsides within a few days.


HELPFUL TIPS

  • We recommend you use a soft-bristled tooth brush with a small head. Electric and sonic tooth brushes are also acceptable.
  • Brush your teeth after meals and snacks.
  • If you have eaten while away from home, use your interdental brush to dislodge any food that may get caught around your braces.
  • Rinsing with water is another way to dislodge food from your braces, and to keep sugar from sitting on your teeth.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • We recommend that you have a check up with your dentist every 6 months.

Eating with Braces

Yummy

You’ve probably heard from friends and family members who have worn braces that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in treatment. That’s true - if your favorite food is hard candy:-). Truth is - you can eat most anything as long as you avoid anything that might cause you to lose a bracket, break a wire, or get tangled up in goo. Here’s a simple, helpful guide to help you avoid any issues. Feel free to print this list out and put it up on the fridge.


FOODS TO AVOID WITH BRACES

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum (sugar-free gum is okay)
  • Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

FOODS YOU CAN EAT WITH BRACES

  • Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
  • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake

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