Life with Braces

Having braces is much more comfortable than it used to be, especially when you get your braces at our Henderson orthodontic practice. That’s because we offer the latest orthodontic technology and treatments! However, there are still adjustments you’ll want to make to ensure you keep your braces safe and maximize your treatment to get the best possible results.

Taking Care of Your Braces

Brushing and Flossing With Braces

Brushing and flossing are super important when you have braces. While our Damon ™ braces do collect less plaque and bacteria than conventional braces, you still have extra hardware in your mouth to work around. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your braces and teeth sparkling clean and healthy:

Brush in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before bed using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head. Electric and sonic toothbrushes are perfectly safe to use as well when brushing with braces.
If you’re not home and you get food stuck in your braces, use an interdental brush to gently dislodge it.
Rinsing your mouth out really well with water until you’re able to brush again is another good way to get rid of food and also keeps sugar from sitting on your teeth.
Floss your teeth at least once daily. Use a floss threader or orthodontic flosser to make things easier.
Continue to see your regular dentist every six months.

Eating With Braces

You may have heard from friends and family members that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in braces treatment. That’s true – if your favorite food is hard candy.

In reality, you can still eat most of the foods you love as long you steer clear of anything that could cause you to lose a bracket, break a wire or get a bunch of sticky food stuck in your braces.

When you first get your braces put on and sometimes after appointments, your teeth can be slightly sensitive. If that’s the case, sticking with soft foods and cold foods and drinks, such as mashed potatoes, smoothies, oatmeal, ice water, soup and yogurt, is a good idea until you feel ready to resume your normal eating habits.

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/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake

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)
Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Brushing and Flossing With Braces

Brushing and flossing are super important when you have braces. While our Damon ™ braces do collect less plaque and bacteria than conventional braces, you still have extra hardware in your mouth to work around, as well as additional surface area where plaque can accumulate. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your braces and teeth sparkling clean and healthy:

Brush in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before bed using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head. Electric and sonic toothbrushes are perfectly safe when brushing with braces, as well .
If you’re not home and you get food stuck in your braces, use an interdental brush to gently dislodge it to prevent plaque buildup or discomfort.
Rinsing your mouth out really well with water until you’re able to brush again is another good way to get rid of food and also keeps sugar from sitting on your teeth and causing damage.
Floss your teeth at least once daily. Use a floss threader or orthodontic flosser to make things easier.
Continue to see your regular dentist every six months.

Eating With Braces

You may have heard from friends and family members that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in braces treatment. While that’s true, if your favorite food is hard candy, there are actually fewer restrictions than you might expect. The reality is that you can still eat most of the foods you love as long as you steer clear of anything that could cause you to lose a bracket, break a wire, or get a bunch of sticky food stuck in your braces.

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/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake

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)
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots (they can knock off brackets)

Living With Braces

While many people can feel apprehensive about living with braces, the fact of the matter is that it’s not too different from living without braces! With proper care, attention, and preparation, you’ll find that caring for your teeth, your brackets, and your braces becomes second nature, and when you’ve completed treatment, you’ll have built great habits for keeping your beautiful, newly-aligned smile healthy and sparkling for years to come!

If you’re ready to get started with Okuda Orthodontics and get our Damon ™ braces to ensure a healthy, aligned smile, contact us today to discuss your smile!

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