The most challenging part of your braces journey would be the first few weeks. You will have to learn everything from how to eat with braces to how to clean them properly. Your body will take some time to adjust to the new norms, but after some days, you will notice the pain fade away, and everything will be back at a new normal.
However, to ensure that the body adjusts to the change quickly, we need to know the best tricks.
Eating Habits With Braces:
Whenever we talk about any problem related to our mouths, what we eat and how we eat matters the most; everything you put into your mouth after getting braces will affect your braces. You must ensure that all the sensations you get are pleasant.
WHAT AND HOW TO EAT WITH BRACES:
As soon as you put on braces, it would help if you started focusing on changing your eating habits to soft, non-sticky, and fully cooked meals. Some typical meals that orthodontists recommend are:
- Mashed potatoes
- Meatballs
- Soups, cream, and yogurt
- Rice and pudding as side meals
- Pancakes/cupcakes/custards
- Cereal
- Ice-cream
- Vegetables (baked or boiled)
- Soft tortillas
- Fresh and soft fruits/juices
AVOIDING FOOD:
Some orthodontists also discourage eating raw, uncooked vegetables like carrots, broccoli that can be hard to chew. Moreover, if you eat French toasts or pancakes, stay clear of the overcooked sides that could cause pain in your braces.
Avoid chewing gum and eating sticky sweets (taffy, Gummy Bears, Snickers, or some other sticky candy). Eating such foods is discouraged, as some people have claimed that hard food caused their brace spacers to fall out. So, the next time someone asks, “What should I eat with braces?” be sure to alert them about the dangers of not following the correct protocol regarding eating habits.
Lastly, popcorns are also one of the most discouraging food items. Dentists recommend that patients don’t go to movies or consume popcorn until they’re used to their braces because these popcorns can stick to your gums, leading the mounts to fall out. Falling out of braces is never a good sign because it means you’ll have to go through the painful process of getting them on again, which will perhaps cause more significant pain the second time.
MAINTAINING YOUR HYGIENE:
Lastly, it is crucial to know how to practice good oral hygiene. With the braces on, cleaning your teeth properly will be much bigger of a hassle, but that is what your teeth need. In the initial days, you can use wax or rinse your mouth with salt water to lessen the pain these braces cause. However, cleaning your mouth regularly and flossing them in time is equally important too. Developing these behaviors early on in your braces journey will guarantee that you don’t run into any issues later on.
Every person adjusts to the inconvenience of braces in their way, but if you take care of them, your path to straight teeth will be much more enjoyable. You won’t even notice your braces once you’ve gotten through the first few days!
For more info regarding braces, feel free to contact Pearland Family Dentistry at 832-649-7344.