Watertown, SD (South Dakota) Orthodontists Robert A. Arnold, DDS, and Ryan W. Arnold, DDS


		\|Types of Braces \|Types of Appliances \|Clear Aligners \|Braces Diagram \|Brace Painter \|Oral Care Video Eating with Braces What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. But, you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces. Foods to Avoid Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips Sticky foods: caramels, gum Hard foods: nuts, candy Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer. General Soreness When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Discomfort can be relieved significantly if Aleve or Ibuprofen is used at the time braces are put on. If pain relief is needed later, Tylenol is the best choice. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how! Loosening of Teeth This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new - corrected - positions. Loose Wire or Band Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office. Care of Appliances To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time. Brushing It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Athletics If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness. Back to Top