Life with Braces

Congratulations on getting braces at Pillar Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics! You’ve made a commitment to improving your health, your teeth, and your self-esteem—an investment in your smile for the rest of your life. Make sure to protect that investment by learning how to care for your braces!

One of the best parts about getting braces with Pillar Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is the personal attention you’ll receive from Dr. Ari during every appointment. He’ll make sure your treatment is progressing as planned, and will be able to make any adjustments to ensure your smile is the best it can possibly be.

Braces Care at Home

The most important part of your orthodontic treatment rests in your hands—brushing and flossing. You should brush after every time you eat, making sure to clean between the braces and gums to remove any food left on the teeth. If you can’t brush at school, brush as soon as you get home. Even rinsing with water is good! 

You’ll also need to clean between your teeth, which can be tricky with brackets and wires in the way. We recommend using a Waterpik water flosser to help clean between the braces.

Eating with Braces

Having braces also means that you’ll need to give up certain foods during your treatment. Don’t worry—you’ll be able to resume normal eating habits the moment your braces come off. Until then, here are some guidelines for which foods don’t mix well with braces.

Foods to avoid:

• Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

If you want to eat harder foods like toasted bagels, apples, etc., we recommend cutting it into smaller pieces and putting the food towards the back teeth.

Dealing with Soreness

For the first few days after your braces are placed, you may experience some general soreness. We usually recommend softer foods for the first few days and an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. Subsequent adjustments of wires and bands may also lead to discomfort, but this shouldn’t last more than a day or two.

If you ever have questions about your braces, or if something just doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to call us. A member of our team will be more than happy to help!