Information About Braces
Getting braces is an exciting step toward a healthier, straighter smile. Whether you're preparing for treatment or already wearing braces, knowing how to care for them can help keep your treatment on track. Get It Straight Orthodontics provides braces and personalized orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults in Rochester, Pittsford, Macedon, and surrounding communities.
Brushing and Flossing With Braces
Good oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment. Food and plaque can collect around brackets and wires, so brushing thoroughly and flossing regularly can help keep your teeth and gums healthy while your smile is changing.
Continue visiting your general dentist for routine cleanings and exams throughout treatment. Adults with a history of gum disease may also need to see a periodontist. Our team will show you how to clean around your braces and answer questions about caring for your smile between orthodontic visits.
Looking for more information about treatment? Explore our braces options or visit our Patient Center for additional orthodontic resources.
Eating With Braces
What can you eat with braces?
You can still enjoy plenty of your favorite foods while wearing braces, but you'll need to make a few adjustments to protect your brackets and wires. During the first few days after getting braces or following an adjustment, softer foods can also be more comfortable while your teeth are tender.
Foods that are very hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy can bend wires or loosen brackets. Some foods, including apples and carrots, may still be enjoyed if they're cut into smaller, bite-sized pieces rather than bitten into directly.
What Foods Should You Avoid With Braces?
One of the most common questions we hear is, "What can't I eat with braces?" The biggest foods to avoid are those that can stick to your braces, bend wires, or loosen brackets. Protecting your braces can help prevent unnecessary repairs and keep your orthodontic treatment moving forward.
Foods You Shouldn't Eat With Braces
- × Chewy foods: Bagels, hard rolls, licorice, and other foods that require a lot of pulling or chewing
- × Crunchy foods: Popcorn, ice, and other foods that could damage brackets or wires
- × Sticky foods: Caramels, gum, and other sticky candies
- × Hard foods: Nuts, hard candy, and similar foods that could loosen or break a bracket
- × Foods you have to bite into: Avoid biting directly into corn on the cob, whole apples, and raw carrots. Cut appropriate foods into smaller pieces instead.
Don't forget: Avoid chewing on pens, pencils, fingernails, ice, or other hard objects. These habits can damage your braces and may interfere with your treatment progress.
Common Braces Concerns & Care Tips
Adjusting to braces can come with a few questions along the way. Mild soreness, changes in how your teeth feel, and occasional issues with wires or bands can happen during treatment.
Use the information below as a quick guide, and contact our orthodontic team if you're experiencing a problem or aren't sure what to do.
It's common for your teeth and mouth to feel sore for a few days after your braces are first placed or adjusted. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also need some time to get used to the brackets. Orthodontic wax can be placed over areas that are causing irritation. If discomfort is significant, doesn't improve, or you have questions about what you're experiencing, contact our office.
A wire or band can occasionally become loose during treatment. If a wire is sticking out and irritating your mouth, orthodontic wax can help protect the area temporarily. Contact our office as soon as possible so our team can determine whether the appliance needs to be checked or repaired.
Rubber bands and other orthodontic appliances play an important role in moving your teeth and jaws into their planned positions. Wear them exactly as instructed by your orthodontist. Consistent wear can help your treatment progress as planned, while not following the recommended schedule may extend treatment time.
Your teeth may feel slightly loose at different points during orthodontic treatment. This can be a normal part of the tooth-movement process. Your teeth will settle into their corrected positions as treatment progresses and is completed. If a tooth feels unusually loose or you're concerned, contact our orthodontic team.
You can continue participating in sports while wearing braces. Let our team know if you play contact sports so we can help you protect your teeth, lips, cheeks, and orthodontic appliances with an appropriate mouthguard.
Have Questions About Braces?
Whether you're considering braces or already receiving treatment, the Get It Straight Orthodontics team is here to help. We provide orthodontic care for kids, teens, and adults at our offices in Rochester, Pittsford, and Macedon, NY.
If you're ready to explore your orthodontic treatment options, schedule a complimentary consultation and find out which approach is right for your smile.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about what makes Get It Straight Orthodontics in Rochester NY a smart choice, or to take advantage of our free initial consultation offer (a $249 value), get in touch with any of our three Rochester area locations today.
Or call us at 585-248-5100 and we’ll be happy to help.