soft cheeses yogurt soup non-tough, soft-cooked meats without any bones (chicken, turkey, meatballs, deli slices, etc. ) soft seafood dishes without any bones (fish, crab cakes) pasta/noodles boiled or mashed potatoes soft, cooked rice eggs soft-cooked beans soft breads without a hard crust soft tortillas pancakes soft baked goods, such as biscuits and muffins pudding applesauce bananas smoothies, ice cream, or milkshakes jello
nuts of any kind granola[1] X Research source popcorn[2] X Research source ice hard bread crusts bagels pizza crust chips (potato and tortilla) hard shell tacos raw carrots (unless cut into very small pieces) apples (unless cut into small slices) corn (unless it’s just kernels - avoid eating corn on the cob)
gum of any kind licorice toffee caramel Starburst Sugar Daddies chocolate cheese
Use a knife to cut corn kernels off the cob. Corn is soft enough that it should be safe to eat, but biting into the cob could hurt your teeth or damage your braces or induce pain in your jaw. Cut apples into slices before eating. Much like corn, biting into the core could cause pain or damage your braces. Even if you’re eating braces-friendly foods, you may still want to cut your food into smaller pieces. This can help manage pain and protect your teeth from damage.
As you chew, try to avoid tearing or pulling apart food with your front teeth. This is another reason smaller bites may be helpful. [3] X Research source It may be helpful to physically put the food in the back of your mouth (but away from your throat, so you don’t choke). If you’re not used to using a fork in the back of your mouth and worry about biting the fork, try picking up the food pieces with your fingers and gently placing them in place to chew with your back teeth.
Drink plenty of water while you eat. This can help make swallowing easier if you’re having a hard time chewing. Drinking water will also help rinse away any food residue that may get caught in your braces. [5] X Research source
Mix one teaspoon of salt into an eight ounce glass of clean, warm water. Don’t make it too hot, as you do not want to risk burning your mouth. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Rinse and swish with the saline mix as often as necessary throughout the day, especially during the first week after an installation or adjustment. Spit out the rinse when you’re finished.
Only use orthodontic wax on your braces. Ask your orthodontist for a supply of wax to take home with you, or check your local pharmacy for orthodontic wax. If you keep applying wax and it keeps falling off, ask your orthodontist to heat up a small amount of gutta-percha and apply it to your wire. It will cool down after about 40 seconds and will stay on for a longer period of time than normal wax will.
If you are administering medication to a child or teenager, you should avoid administering aspirin because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome in children and adolescents. Reye’s syndrome is a potentially-fatal condition associated with aspirin in young people. [6] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Floss under the wire, then feed the floss through above the wire between each set of teeth. Form a C-shape against each tooth as you floss to ensure you remove all debris.
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to reduce the pain of brushing while your teeth and gums are sore. Consider using an interdental toothbrush to clean between your brackets and wires. Brush towards your tongue to ensure that food debris is properly removed. That means using downward strokes on your upper teeth and upward strokes on your lower teeth. Don’t rush. Plan to spend about two to three minutes each time you brush to ensure that you cover every surface of each individual tooth. You might even need to repeat the brushing process and rinse more often than you used to. Now, your plaque is now spread onto a wider surface (your teeth and your braces).
Rubber bands should be worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week until your orthodontist tells you otherwise. [8] X Research source You should only take out your rubber bands to eat or brush your teeth. Otherwise they should be worn at all times, including while you sleep. [9] X Research source Though you may be tempted to skip wearing rubber bands for a few days after each adjustment, it is best for your teeth if you adhere to your orthodontist’s specific recommendations. [10] X Research source
