How to Live With Braces? OR Troubleshooting with Braces!!
Braces treatment is a journey where the patient and doctor’s involvement together into the treatment leads to superb results. It's very important for you to understand how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
EATING WITH BRACES
Your craving for those popcorns and thinking of snacking on potato chips again is understandable! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.
FOODS TO AVOID WITH BRACES:
1. Chewy foods — Licorice, Doughnuts, Bagels
2. Crunchy foods — Pizza, Popcorn, Chips, Ice
3. Sticky foods — Sugercandies, Toffee, Caramel candies
4. Hard foods — Nuts, Sugarcane, Hard candies
5. Foods that require biting into — Apples, Guava, Carrots
FOODS YOU CAN EAT WITH BRACES:
1. Dairy — Milkshakes, Soft cheese, pudding, Milk-based drinks
2. Bread — Pancakes, muffins without nuts
3. Grains — Steamed rice
4. Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs
5. Seafood — Salmon, Tuna
6. Fruits — Melons, Bananas
7. Vegetables — Mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
8. Occasional Treats — Ice cream without nuts, Soft cakes
SORENESS CAUSED FROM BRACES AND FIXED APPLIANCES
When you get your braces for the first time, the teeth may feel a little sore / tender on the first day or for a couple of days. That perfectly normal as that’s not going to be this way forever. This is due to the first micro-movements that are induced by the wires as the teeth start moving inside the bone towards correct positions.
If the pain is too severe then an analgesic (Pain killer) that your dentist prescribes may be taken.
Usually, it’s quite mild and for such mild conditions, saltwater at lukewarm temperature may be used to squish the mouth with.
Many times your lips, cheeks, and tongue may be irritated for one to two weeks as they get used to the presence of the braces in the mouth. You may use some wax provided by the orthodontist to put over the braces to relieve the tenderness.
LOOSE WIRES AND BANDS
The wires and bands on your braces may become loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the clinic with you.
You can place wax over the broken wire to relieve the pain if the wire feels poky on the inner cheeks.
LOOSE TEETH
If your teeth begin to feel slightly loose that’s normal. The teeth are supposed to move that’s the whole point. The braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they shall no longer be shaky and new bone formed around them in the final positions make them firm again.
PLAYING SPORTS WITH BRACES
Our athletic patients need not worry. They can play any sport they wish for. It's better to use mouthguards during contact sports. Mouthguards may be prefabricated or customized. They protect the fixed appliance in your mouth from any external trauma and act as a barrier between the lip and the appliance. You can get them fabricated with us at COSMODENT INDIA.
DO TAKE CARE OF YOUR APPLIANCES
Kindly make sure to take care of your braces as once the appliance is damaged there may be a significant increase in the duration of your braces wear and elongation of your treatment duration. Also wear the elastics, rubber bands, and retainers, as prescribed by the orthodontist as your teeth and jaw, can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear them as prescribed.