Life with Braces

What to eat while Wearing Braces

Eating with Braces

Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to avoid with braces:

Chewy foods — taffy, licorice, toosie rolls, beef jerky
Crunchy foods — popcorn kernels, ice
Sticky foods — candies such as, milk duds, skittles, starburst
Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, whole apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces:

You may eat anything that you normally have for breakfast, lunch and dinner is fine, just be cautious.

Sugar free gum
Chocolate, soft candies
Popcorn (do not chew on the kernels)
Chips (break into smaller pieces)
Corn (cut off the cob)
Apples (sliced & peeled)

Wearing Braces

Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever such as Tylenol. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

Brushing & Flossing with Braces

Take Care of your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let our staff know if you need a sports mouthguard for the best protection during the time you are in braces.

Powers Orthodontics-2 convenient locations:
Near Linton: 195 E. Broad St. Box 236 Lyons, IN 47443
Terre Haute: 300 College Ave. Terre Haute, IN 4780
Phone: (812) 659-9100