It is important that you take good care of aligners, braces and other orthodontic appliances throughout your treatment. Keeping these orthodontic appliances in good condition helps ensure that your treatment progresses as planned. Below are a few guidelines to help you keep your braces in top shape and care for your teeth properly during your treatment.

Eating & Clear Aligners

Make sure that you remove your clear aligners to eat. This will help prevent them from being damaged or becoming dirty.

Eating With Braces
There are some foods that you should avoid while wearing braces in order to prevent your braces from being damaged. These include:

• Chewy foods — such as bagels and licorice
• Crunchy foods — such as popcorn, ice and chips
• Sticky foods — such as caramel and chewing gum
• Hard foods — such as nuts and hard candies
• Foods that require biting into — such as corn on the cob, raw carrots and uncut apples

Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances
Your teeth and mouth may feel tender or sore when you begin your orthodontic treatment. This soreness should go away within a few days as your mouth adjusts to your appliance. Clear aligners are designed using smooth plastic, and any discomfort you experience should be minimal.

Loose Teeth
Your teeth might feel a little loose as your treatment progresses. This is normal and is caused by the repositioning of your teeth. Once your teeth have achieved their proper position, they will stop feeling loose.

Loose Wires and Bands
If you are receiving hybrid treatment and the wires and bands on your braces come loose, call our office immediately so that we can check your braces and make any needed repairs or adjustments. If a piece of your appliance breaks off, save the piece and bring it with you.

Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances increase the length of your treatment. Your teeth and jaw can only move into the proper positions when your appliances are in good condition and are worn consistently. Take good care of your appliances and wear your retainer, rubber bands or other appliances as directed.

Sports, Musical Instruments and Braces
You can still play sports and musical instruments while wearing braces. We recommend that you wear an athletic mouth guard to protect your teeth, gums and appliances during sporting activities. You may need to make a few adjustments while playing a musical instrument, but your braces should not cause any problems.

If you have any other questions about life with braces, please feel free to contact our office.