Avoid anything hard, sticky, or chewy. Some examples of things to avoid include, hard candy, ice, nuts, pizza crust, Takis, Starbursts, Tootsie Rolls, and Bubble Gum. Also stay away from sugary drinks like soda.

Cleaning your teeth properly is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a beautiful result. Nobody wants straight teeth that are stained or developing cavities. White spot lesions, or opaque, white areas on teeth that cannot be removed without more invasive treatment, may occur without a proper hygiene routine. Brush 2-3 times a day for two minutes with a soft bristle tooth brush. Angle the brush 45 degrees above and below the bracket and be sure to brush near the gum line. Use a proxabrush (Christmas tree shaped brush) and floss to clean between teeth. After each time you brush, look in the mirror and make sure there is no plaque (filmy white substance) on your teeth or braces as this is what causes stains, white spots, and cavities. If you have any questions or need a demonstration, please let us know!

Unfortunately there may be times during your treatment when a bracket breaks off or a wire comes loose. This is most common in the early stages of treatment when you are getting used to living with braces and wires are thin, flimsy and more easily come out of the back braces. Don’t panic. Give us a call and we can direct you on the next steps. Typically wax can be placed temporarily over an irritating area to provide relief until we can see you and put things back together. These things usually do not affect the length of treatment as long as it doesn’t become a habit.

Soreness is very common for a couple of days after each appointment, with the first appointment typically being the worst. For adults, it may last longer. Whatever you usually use for pain management, Tylenol or ibuprofen, at normal dose works well. Eating soft foods and drinking cold things such as smoothies can also help provide relief.