ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT WITH BRACES
Take Care of Your Braces
At Dr. Sanford's office, we use state-of-the-art materials to provide gentle, yet effective treatment. Most patients experience a minimal amount of discomfort, which passes in a few days or so. For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
During your first few weeks of treatment, you should avoid (or at least minimize consumption) of the following types of food:
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Sticky Foods
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Hard Foods
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Sugary Foods
STICKY FOODS TO AVOID
Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst
Gummy Treats
Fruit Roll-ups
Skittles
HARD FOODS TO AVOID
Uncooked carrots (unless sliced or shredded)
Ice
Nuts
Hard taco shells
Bagels
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob
Apples (unless cut up)
Chips
Jolly Ranchers
Pizza crust
SUGARY FOODS TO AVOID
Drinks with added sugar
Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy
Soda
Sweetened Tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Your First Few Days in Braces
At Dr. Sanford's office, we use state-of-the-art materials to provide gentle, yet effective movement.
Most patients experience a minimal amount of discomfort, which passes in a few days or so.
AFTER YOUR BRACES ARE REMOVED
When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts throughout high school, with check-up visits to our office for the first 12 months. Your final orthodontic result depends on a commitment to regular retainer wear, so follow through with the work you've put in so far. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer carefully while cradled in your hand before placing it back in your mouth. Soaking retainers at least twice a week in retainer/denture cleaner will disinfect them as well as refresh them.
