When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To ease 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 at any of your appointments and we will gladly send some home with you.

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.  Your teeth will no longer feel loose once your teeth have been repositioned.

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens and you’re not in any discomfort you can wait until your next regularly scheduled appointment.

Loose Wire Tip: 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 temporarily relieve the pain.

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.

Great news, Athletes!  You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let us know if you need a mouthguard and we will give you one.  Dr. DeGise provides these at no additional charge.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.

Hard foods to avoid include:

• Hard Candy
• Corn Chips
• Popcorn
• Jerky
• Ice
• Nuts
• Pizza Crust
• Corn on the Cob
• Jolly Ranchers

Soft foods to avoid include:

• Bubble Gum
• Gum (as directed by your orthodontist)
• Starbursts
• Sugar Daddies
• Tootsie Rolls
• Gummy Bears
• Caramels
• Taffy
• Other chewy candies