Are Braces Going to Change My Life?
Getting a straighter, healthier smile is definitely life-changing for many people. But is life a lot different during treatment too? Our patients find it isn’t nearly as hard to adjust to braces in Orlando as they thought it would be. They are still involved in sports, play musical instruments, and love eating out at their favorite restaurants.
The following information can help you adjust and make the most of your treatment.
What Can I Eat With Braces in Orlando?
While there are certain things you shouldn’t eat with braces in Orlando (think hard, sharp, crunchy, or sticky), we prefer to focus on the things you can eat.
Meats
Any type of meat cut into bite-size pieces is usually fine, other than jerky, which can be hard to chew. Chicken off the bone is a safer bet than chicken on the bone, and the same goes for ribs.
Dairy
Not only are the majority of dairy products safe to eat with braces, they also provide calcium to keep the enamel on your teeth strong. So help yourself to cheese, milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
Fruits
Any soft fruits are perfect to eat with braces. Crunchier ones, such as apples, are fine too, just cut them up first. Small seeds from berries can get stuck in your brackets and wires, so just be sure to brush and floss carefully when you’re done.
Vegetables
You'll never catch us telling anyone not to eat their veggies. Pretty much any cooked vegetable is safe for braces, and most raw ones are okay too as long as they are cut into bite-size pieces.
Desserts
Cakes, nut-free cookies, ice cream, pies, and pudding are all great dessert options, even if you’ve just gotten your braces on. Frozen fruit bars or popsicles are fine too, just be careful biting into them.
Drinks
Drinking anything with braces is fine, hot or cold. If you prefer darker drinks, like red wine, coffee, tea, or cola, give your mouth a quick rinse or brush your teeth when you’re done to avoid staining your teeth.
Braces Emergencies
Eating the right things, wearing a mouthguard during physical activities, and brushing and flossing will go a long way in keeping your braces or Invisalign safe and your treatment on track. However, things do happen, and it’s good to know how to deal with them when they do.
Orthodontic emergencies aren’t always actual emergencies, and many of them can be taken care of right at home.
Here are some common issues and how to deal with them.
Soreness in the mouth
You can expect to experience some mild discomfort when you first get braces and possibly when you get them adjusted. Applying a cold compress, drinking cool liquids, and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil can help.
If the discomfort is extreme or lasts longer than a couple days, please contact our office.
Broken bracket
A broken bracket is not something you can fix on your own, but there are a couple things you can do until you come in to see us. If your bracket just feels a little loose and you’re scheduled to come in for an appointment in the next couple of days, be careful with brushing and what you eat, and it will likely be fine until you get here.
If the bracket is completely disconnected from the tooth, try to open the small latch on the front of it and remove it from the wire. Place it in a baggie and give us a call to have it reattached.
Loose wire on braces
A loose wire can be irritating to your cheeks, gums, and tongue. Try pushing the end of the wire back into the bracket using the eraser on the end of a pencil. If unsuccessful, put a little orthodontic wax on the end of the wire if it is short, or trim it slightly with a pair of nail clippers if it is long. Then contact us to schedule an appointment.
Lost or damaged Invisalign aligner
Accidents don’t just happen with braces. Invisalign aligners can get left somewhere, thrown away, or damaged by a pet or a hot few hours in a car.
If you had just started wearing your new aligners, go back to your previous set; if you were almost finished wearing your aligners, move on to the next set. Either way, please let us know so we can determine if a replacement aligner needs to be ordered.
If you have questions about living with braces or Invisalign, whether you are thinking about treatment or are currently a patient, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help!