Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It's important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Eating With Braces

Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

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

How Does Invisalign Teen® Work?

Invisalign Teen® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten and align teenagers' teeth gradually. Tailored to the unique dental needs of adolescents, these nearly invisible aligners are worn over the teeth and changed approximately every one to two weeks as teeth gradually shift into the desired positions. The aligners are custom made by our orthodontist in Gaithersburg, MD, using advanced 3D digital imaging technology, allowing for precise treatment planning. With the flexibility to remove the aligners for eating, brushing, and special occasions, Invisalign Teen® offers a discreet, comfortable, and convenient orthodontic solution for teenagers seeking a confident smile.

Invisalign Teen® is a beacon of modern orthodontics, offering teenagers a dynamic and effective solution for achieving a straighter and more confident smile. To learn more, visit Sublime Smiles Orthodontics at 11400 Rockville Pike #805, Rockville, MD 20852, or 189 Kentlands Blvd #206, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. You can schedule an appointment online or call us at (301) 330-1400.

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 and Appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal, and we promise that your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Take Care of Your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Orthodontic Mouthguards for Playing Sports by Shock Doctor®

We are pleased to offer our patients the Shock Doctor Braces Mouthguard, which is specifically made for people who wear braces. Designed with a shock-absorbing frame, this mouthguard provides full coverage for upper and/or lower braces with enhanced comfort and ultimate protection.

With the Shock Doctor Braces Mouthguard, you have an instant fit because of the special orthodontic channel that fits around your braces. As your braces are adjusted, the advanced Ortho Channel technology adapts to any changes in the position of your teeth, providing a precise fit. Made from 100% medical-grade silicone, this mouthguard is latex-free and does not require custom fitting or boiling. In addition, the Braces Mouthguard meets the National Federation of State High School Associations’ wrestling rules for providing full coverage of braces.

Sportsguard Mouthguards After Braces

We also recommend using custom-fitted Sportsguard mouthguards to ensure greater comfort and the highest quality protection while playing sports after you have completed your orthodontic treatment.

They are made with PolyShok technology which is an impact energy absorption material that is 150% more energy absorbent than other mouthguard materials. The first step in fabricating these mouthguards is to take an impression of your teeth. We then use that impression and fabricate the mouthguard using the special PolyShok technology.

The perfect fit of these custom-fabricated mouthguards ensures that not only will your mouthguard fit more comfortably, but they will also offer the most protection and greatly reduce the occurrence of injuries and concussions. In addition, you will be able to breathe, speak and drink with ease while wearing these custom-fitted mouthguards.