Drs. Rollins, Petersen and Larson offer braces and other straightening treatments which can transform your smile. In addition to changing the position of your teeth, our orthodontics in Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek or Globe, Arizona can also change your lifestyle during treatment. Here are some things you need to know when undergoing orthodontic care.
Foods to Avoid
Our Rollins & Petersen team uses durable, quality materials to create your braces. However, some foods can still damage your orthodontia and put your straightening treatment to a halt. In order to avoid damaging your braces, here are some foods you should avoid eating:
- Chewy foods—bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods—popcorn, chips, ice cubes
- Sticky foods—gummy candy, caramel, chewing gum
- Hard foods—hard candies, whole apples, whole carrots
- Foods that require biting into—corn on the cob, whole apples, whole carrots
Braces Discomfort
You may experience discomfort when you first receive braces and after straightening treatments, but it should be minimal and temporary. Your teeth will feel a little sore at this time, but you can relieve the soreness with over-the-counter painkillers. The braces can also rub against your oral tissue and cause lesions to develop when you first receive them. You can relieve this discomfort with orthodontic wax and a medicated mouthwash.
Loose Teeth
If your teeth feel loose during treatment, you don’t need to worry. This is supposed to happen because the braces need to loosen teeth in order to shift them. The looseness will dissipate once we move the teeth into the correct position.
Damaged Braces
If your braces’ wire breaks or a bracket detaches from the tooth, then you should visit our orthodontists for care as soon as possible so we can relieve discomfort and get your straightening treatment back on track. You can make some temporary fixes by pushing a wire back in place with the eraser end of a pencil and covering it with orthodontic wax.
