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Life with Braces

Orthodontic Treatment in Lakewood, Aurora, and Denver, CO

At All About Braces, our mission is to help our patients achieve a smile they can feel proud of in any situation. We offer a variety of orthodontic treatment options, including braces and Invisalign®, and we strive to create personalized treatment plans that perfectly suit each patient’s unique orthodontic needs.

When you begin your treatment, there will be a number of things you’ll have to get used to — and with diligent care, your braces will help you unlock the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

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Food & Braces

While you’re wearing braces, you’ll have to avoid certain foods that can damage your braces. These include foods that are particularly hard, crunchy, chewy, sticky, or filled with sugar. Here are some sample foods you’ll need to avoid while wearing braces:

Foods to avoid with braces

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces

  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
  • Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Foods to avoid with braces

Chewy foods — bagels, licorice

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum

Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks

Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts

Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice

Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats

Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans

Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice

Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Soreness from Braces

When you first get started with braces, you’ll probably notice some soreness or tenderness in your teeth and mouth. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be worried about, and it should pass within a week.

If you experience discomfort, try washing your mouth with lukewarm salt water for a couple of minutes. Swish and gargle it, but don’t swallow it; it’ll help to soothe irritated spots in your mouth.

If the rinse doesn’t help, you can also use an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol. You may find that your lips, cheeks, or tongue get irritated for the first week or two of having braces, but this will subside as your mouth gets used to them. We’re also happy to provide dental wax you can use to cover up irritating spots on your braces.

Loose Teeth

If you notice your teeth start to feel loose during treatment, don’t worry. It’s a normal part of treatment, and just means that your braces are working. Your teeth will change positions over the coming months, and once they set into their new positions in your new smile, they’ll stop feeling loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

You may also find that the wires or bands of your braces start to feel loose or come off. When this happens, it requires immediate attention, so please contact us as soon as possible. If any piece falls off, be sure to save it and bring it into the office.

You may be able to fix the loose wire temporarily by using the back of a spoon or a pencil eraser to push it back in place. You can also place dental wax or a cotton ball over the wire if it’s causing you pain or discomfort.

Caring for Your Appliances

To ensure the success of your treatment and to minimize its length, it’s important for you to take care of all your orthodontic appliances. Whether you’ve been prescribed headgear, rubber bands, or a retainer, you’ll have to wear them for the amount of time specified each day. It’s the only way to ensure your treatment is effective and you achieve the smile of your dreams.

Sports and Braces

If you’re an athlete who’s nervous about treatment, we’ve got great news: you can still practice and play sports while wearing braces! The only thing you’ll need is your own custom-made mouthguard, which will make you 60 times less likely to suffer an injury to your teeth or orthodontic appliance. Let us know if you need a mouthguard and we’ll make one to fit your smile and appliances.

If you suffer a bad fall or other sports injury, it’s critical to check your mouth and appliance for damage immediately. If you see any damage or notice anything has come loose, call us right away. You can use wax or a salt-water rinse to relieve discomfort, but we’ll need to get you in for an appointment as soon as possible to make repairs.

Contact Your Aurora, Lakewood, and Denver, CO Orthodontist

Braces take a little bit of getting used to, but with proper care, they’re your ticket to a new smile and a new you. If you have more questions about what life with braces is like or want to find out more about orthodontic treatment, we encourage you to contact us at one of the offices below.

Or, if you’re ready to get started down the path to a new smile, you can use our easy online form to request your initial consultation at any of our offices. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you revolutionize your smile!