Life with Braces | Newman Orthodontics

Getting braces at Newman Orthodontics is a major milestone on the journey to a healthier, more confident smile, but it also marks the beginning of an adjustment period that affects everything from what you eat to how you care for your teeth.

The good news? With the right tips and a little patience, your experience with braces can be a lot more manageable, and the end result is always worth it.

Eating with Braces

Eating proper foods, minimizing sugar intake, and getting enough sleep are essential during orthodontic treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating hard foods. Some soft and sticky foods can cause tooth decay and loosen or dislodge your braces.

Foods to eat

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Foods to avoid

Hard foods to avoid include:

Hard candy
Corn chips
Unpopped popcorn kernels
Jerky
Nuts
Pizza crust
Corn on the cob
Gummy vitamins
Cluster cereal
Ice cubes

Soft foods to avoid include:

Any type of gum
Carmel and taffy
Tootsie Rolls
Gummy bears
Chewy candies

Whole fruits and vegetables should be cooked or cut into small pieces.

Oral Hygiene with Braces

In addition to a healthy diet, proper oral hygiene plays a key role in the success of your orthodontic treatment. Inadequate hygiene can lead to tooth decay and white spots on the teeth at the end of treatment.

Dr. Newman and our team recommend brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice per day, but ideally after every meal. The most important thing is to spend time to ensure that all food is removed from the braces and wires. We will show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth on the day you get your braces and reinforce good hygiene at every visit. Using fluoride mouthwash can also help strengthen the enamel of your teeth throughout treatment.

Dealing with Discomfort

It is perfectly normal for your teeth to feel a little tender or sore when you first get your braces, but this usually goes away after one to two days. We recommend rinsing with saltwater by mixing one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle for a few minutes and do not swallow the saltwater. If the pain is more severe, you can take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

It is also not uncommon to experience irritation of your lips, cheeks, or tongue for one to two weeks. Rest assured, they will toughen up as they get used to the braces. We will give you some soft wax that can be placed on the braces as a nice cushion.

If any of your braces become loose, please contact our Randolph or West Orange orthodontic office. If there is no discomfort, you can wait until your next appointment to repair the appliances. We can also schedule an emergency visit to make you more comfortable.

Making your smile a success!

Come into our office excited and determined to achieve a beautiful smile and the team at Newman Orthodontics will take care of the rest! We like to think of our patients as partners. We can achieve the best results when we work together and you are invested in the treatment. If you follow our instructions and guidance, we are confident that we will deliver!