You can eat immediately after placement of your braces; however, we recommend you start with foods that are soft and easy to chew.
Initially, you will experience mild discomfort with your braces. This is due to movement of the teeth and is expected from time to time throughout treatment. We recommend using a non-prescription pain reliever such as Motrin or Tylenol. The initial soreness is normal. As you become accustomed to your braces, the discomfort will subside. You may find it helpful to use a small piece of wax on any bracket irritation.
Avoid certain foods during the course of your orthodontic treatment, for example:
| No Hard Foods |
No Sticky and Chewy Foods |
Decrease High Sugar |
| Ice |
Starburst |
Soda |
| Hard Breads |
Caramel |
Fruit Juices |
| Apples |
Taffy |
Sugary Cereals |
| Chips |
Gum |
Cookies |
| Carrots & Nuts |
Oral Hygiene Instructions
- Brush 4 times a day, including after every meal, for at least 2 minutes.
- Brush concentrating on 3 teeth at a time, above each bracket then below the bracket. Finish with brushing the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Use Phosflur fluoride rinse nightly for 60 seconds, nothing to eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing.
- Cut hard foods such as pizza crusts, fruits and vegetable into small pieces, to avoid breaking any brackets off the teeth.
- Each time a bracket is loose it can add a month to your treatment plan.
Fun Rewards/How to Earn Tokens
If you have clean teeth, you can earn tokens for:
- No Broken Brackets = 1 point
- Being on Time for Appointments = 1 point
- Six Month Dental Checkups with Receipt = 5 points
- Referring a patient and they come in for a new patient exam = 5 points
You can earn points for each of the above criteria. Redeem your tokens for fabulous prizes and gifts!
CHECK OUT THE DISPLAY CABINET IN THE WAITING ROOM!
Don't forget to participate in our monthly contest while you're in the chair. You will have a chance to win gift cards, water park passes and more!