Braces 101

Braces 101at Virginia Braces and Aligners

Life with Braces

When you get your braces, it is normal to worry about how it will affect your normal activities such as eating, brushing, and physical activities. Braces are excellent solutions for restoring your smile and correcting various dental problems. At Virginia Braces and Invisalign Center, we help you get through your treatment. Our orthodontist and team will instruct you on taking the right steps to complete your treatment with braces without any worries.

What to Expect?

Typically, treatments using braces last for an average of 2 years. However, every patient is unique and the duration of treatment can vary. Whether your treatment lasts 6 months or 2 years, it is important to take the best care of your orthodontic appliances. You shouldn't worry about taking care of your braces because it takes only a few weeks to get used to them and everything starts feeling normal.

Eating with Your Braces On

It is recommended to take soft foods during the first couple of days after getting your braces. You will have to avoid certain foods such as hard breads, tough meats, and raw vegetables for some time before you will be able to start biting them again. Still, it will be required to protect the braces when you eat something as long as you will be wearing them.

Here is a list of foods you should avoid:

  • Crunchy foods such as chips, popcorn, and ice

  • Chewy foods such as licorice and bagels

  • Hard foods such as hard candies and nuts

  • Sticky foods such as chewing gum and caramel candies

And foods that require you to bite into them, including apples, corn on the cob, and carrots.

The foods you can eat with your braces on include:

  • Breads such as pancakes, soft tortillas, and muffins without nuts

  • Dairy products including pudding, soft cheese, and milk-based drinks

  • Grains such as soft-cooked rice and pasta

  • Seafood such as salmon, tuna, and crab cakes

  • Meats and poultry including meatballs, soft-cooked chicken, and lunch meats

  • Vegetables such as steamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and beans

  • Treats such as ice cream soft cake, and milkshakes

  • Fruits including bananas, applesauce, and fruit juice

Sports Activities

Whether you are a professional athlete or like to play sports as a hobby, you should wear a mouthguard to keep your orthodontic appliance and teeth safe. If you need the perfect mouthguard, we can help you with the selection. If there is a sports emergency, you should immediately check the braces and your mouth for any signs of damage or injury. If you find any loose teeth or damage to the appliance, you should contact us. For temporary relief, it is recommended to apply wax or rinse your mouth using warm salt water.

Brushing & Flossing

Oral hygiene becomes even more important when you have braces on. It is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout the duration of the treatment. If you need assistance with choosing the perfect toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste, we can help you. It is recommended to follow these steps when brushing your teeth with the braces on:

  • Position the toothbrush at 45 degrees to your gum

  • Brush gently following a circulation motion

  • Make sure to brush the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces of each tooth

  • Brush the inner surface of the front teeth using the tip of the brush

Use the following tips when flossing:

  • Wind 18 inches of floss around your fingers. Wrap a larger portion of the floss around one finger. As the floss gets used up, the other finger should take it up.

  • Use the thumbs and forefingers to guide an inch of floss between the teeth

  • Hold the floss tightly and gently saw between the teeth. Curve the floss to create a C-shape against a tooth and slide it under the gums.

  • Slide it up and down, and repeat for each tooth

While you follow these measures, it is important to visit our office for regular check ups and cleanings. Our orthodontists and general dentists will work together to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy during the course of your treatment with braces. We have offices in Arlington, Mechanicsville, Charlottesville, Ruckersville and Woodbridge.