Life with braces is pretty much the same as life before braces. There are just a few things to be aware of.

1. Keeping your teeth clean is very important. You'll want to brush thoroughly at least twice a day (morning and before bed). Brushing after every meal is even better. Although flossing takes a bit more time now, you'll also want to floss once a day. Click here for details on how to brush and floss with braces.

2. If you play sports, you must wear a mouthguard. This is a good practice for everyone, but it is especially critical with orthodontic appliances in place. If you need a mouthguard that will work with your braces, please ask at your next appointment and we'll give you one free of charge.

3. You'll notice that eating is different with braces. Some foods you'll need to avoid altogether. Anything really hard, crunchy or tough (like hard candy, ice, corn nuts and jerky) can break your braces so you'll have to stay away from these.

The same goes for sticky or gooey foods (milk duds, taffy, and licorice for example) which can both damage your braces and be very difficult to clean off after you eat them. Other foods have to be approached differently than before braces -- foods like apples, raw carrots, and even pizza must be cut up into manageable pieces to be eaten with braces in place. Click here for more details on eating with braces.


4. Occasionally you may experience a poking wire or loose bracket. This is a normal part of orthodontic treatment. Loose brackets can be minimized by following the eating instructions above. Wire pokes often happen as a result of teeth moving closer to their proper positions. If the bracket or wire is uncomfortable for you, you can use orthodontic wax (available at our office and most drug stores) to help make it more comfortable, then call our office to schedule a repair. Click here for more ideas on braces first aid.