10 Tips for Living with Braces

Living with braces can be a big adjustment! It’s hard to get used to the new feel of the inside of your mouth and the surfaces of your teeth. However, with proper care and maintenance, and a little time, you’ll soon be accustomed to your braces and when they finally come off you’ll be surprised at how quickly time has passed. These 12 tips can make living with braces easier!

When you first get braces, plan to be eating soft foods for a few days – like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and smoothies. Your mouth will be just a little sore from the fitting and the feel of the braces against your inner lips may make them tender. You can put some wax on your braces to ease the transition.
Up your oral hygiene game. Brushing and flossing is even more important now, as food particles and bacteria can get stuck behind braces. Your dentist will show you how to brush and floss with braces on.
Stay away from sticky foods and foods high in starch or sugar as well as hard foods and candies. Anything you have to bite into such as chicken on the bone, corn on the cob, or even whole apples can be hard on your braces so cut everything up and take small bites.
Don’t chew or bite on things. Pencils, pens, fingernails – all of these can do damage to your braces and the alignment of your teeth and lengthen your course of treatment.
Use mouthwash to help kill bacteria in your mouth after lunch and snacks, when you can’t brush or floss. You can also use intraoral dental pics to get at food stuck behind braces.
Don’t use whitening products on your teeth while you have braces. The whitener won’t be able to get to the enamel where the braces are attached, and you’ll end up with spots on your teeth when the braces come off. You can have a professional tooth whitening done as a celebratory gift to yourself when the treatment is over.
Check your braces and wires regularly for signs of damage, and go to the dentist immediately if there are any issues. If you have to cut a wire, use strong fingernail clippers that were sterilized with alcohol.
Don’t panic if teeth feel slightly loose. Teeth may feel slightly loose at times as they shift position, and will become firmly stuck in place again soon.
If you play sports, a mouthguard is a must; even if you don’t wear braces it’s a good idea. This can prevent damage to your teeth, lips and gums in case of a face impact.
Don’t forget to smile! Don’t be self-conscious about your braces. Lots of people have braces and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In just 12-24 months your smile will be as gorgeous as you always hoped it would be.