LIFE IN BRACES OR INVISALIGN
Partnership between you and Dr. Elfersi
Your role is to follow Dr. Elfersi’s instructions, keep scheduled orthodontic appointments and maintain excellent oral hygiene to achieve best results. You will also need to see your primary care dentist as recommended. Don’t hesitate to call our office with any question you may have. See what life in braces or Invisalign looks like.
Oral Hygiene, key to a successful treatment
Life in braces can be challenging especially caring for your teeth. This means making oral hygiene more important than ever before. Taking good care of your braces is essential for avoiding complications while they’re on and ending up with great-looking teeth once they’re off. Proper oral care is still the key to walking away with a beautiful, healthy smile. You should brush with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes after each meals or at least twice a day. You should also floss at a minimum of once a day preferably before going to bed.
Eating with Braces
When you first get braces, try eating soft foods for about the first week, until you’ve gotten used to having them in your mouth. Later on, you’ll be able to bite into just about anything again without any discomfort.During active treatment, you should avoid hard, chewy, crunchy, and sticky foods. Avoiding foods you like may not be fun, but eating things that you’re not supposed to eat can cause broken wires or brackets. These can not only be painful, but can actually prolong treatment. Do not eat:
- Caramel and gooey chocolate bars
- Very sticky or chunky peanut butter
- Hard candies, Chewy candy, taffy, and gummy bears
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Gum
- Hard meat, hard raw vegetables
- Chewy bread such as bagels – tear into small pieces
- Chips – eat them carefully and one at a time
- Corn on the cob – cut off the cob
- Sugary drinks, fruit juice and sodas even diet ones as they cause tooth decay
How long does treatment take?
Orthodontic treatment averages two years, but can range from one to three years. When “active” treatment ends, retainers are prescribed for most patients to keep teeth in their new positions.
