Problem Foods when you have 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.
Forbidden Hard Foods:
Hard Candy, Corn Chips, Popcorn, Jerky, Ice, Nuts, Pizza Crust, Corn on the Cob
Whole fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots should be cooked or cut into small pieces and eaten carefully.
Use common sense when choosing food to put in your mouth and avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens and pencils.
Forbidden Soft Food:
Bubble Gum, Gum, Sticky Candy like Starbursts, Sugar Daddies, Tootsie Rolls, Gummy Bears, Caramels, and Taffy
Orthodontic Brushing and Flossing Procedures
Brushing with your toothbrush (Soft bristles only):
When? After every meal. If you cannot brush right away, rinse well with water.
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 Use a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste. Place bristles where gums and teeth meet. |
 Use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines, 10 seconds on each tooth. |
 Brush slowly, each arch separately, every tooth. |
 Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth too! |
Flossing
When? Nightly after brushing
How? Use floss threader between gums and braces.
Why? Removes plaque toothbrush misses.
Special brushes can be used for hard-to-clean places.
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 Carefully pull unwaxed floss between wire and braces. A floss threader may be helpful. |
 Floss carefully around the braces. |
 Floss carefuly around each tooth. |
 Floss carefully around the gum area. |
CONCENTRATE ON THE DANGER ZONE!
… the space between the bands or brackets and the gums!