How to Care for Your Braces

At The Smile Makers at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics, we’re excited to help you achieve a beautiful, confident smile. Now that you have your braces, it’s important to know how to care for them throughout your orthodontic treatment. Proper care will ensure your braces stay in great shape and your treatment stays on track.

What Can You Eat with Braces?

Don’t worry — your favorite snacks will be back in your life soon! But while wearing braces, it’s essential to avoid foods that can damage your brackets and wires.

Foods to Avoid with Braces:

• Chewy foods — bagels, licorice

• Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

• Sticky foods — caramel, taffy, chewing gum

• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

• Foods you bite into — whole apples, raw carrots, corn on the cob

Braces-Friendly Foods You CAN Eat:

• Dairy — soft cheeses, yogurt, milkshakes

• Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts

• Grains — soft pasta, cooked rice

• Meats & Poultry — tender chicken, meatballs, deli meats

• Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

• Vegetables — mashed potatoes, cooked spinach, soft beans

• Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit smoothies

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

Soreness from Braces — What to Expect

It’s completely normal for your mouth to feel sore or tender when you first get braces. This discomfort will fade! To help with soreness, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and gently swish it around your mouth. If needed, an over-the-counter pain reliever can help.

Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also feel irritated as they adjust to the braces. We’re happy to provide orthodontic wax to place over any rough areas for added comfort — just ask us!

Why Do My Teeth Feel Loose?

Feeling like your teeth are loose can be unsettling, but it’s part of the process. Braces gently shift your teeth into place, and they may feel slightly loose until they settle into their new positions.

What to Do About Loose Wires or Bands

If you notice a loose wire or band, contact The Smile Makers at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics right away so we can fix it for you. In the meantime, use a pencil eraser or the back of a spoon to gently push the wire into place. If it’s irritating your cheeks or lips, cover it with wax or a damp cotton ball until we can see you.

Caring for Your Orthodontic Appliances

Your braces, rubber bands, retainers, and any other appliances work as a team to straighten your smile. Damaged appliances can slow your progress, so be sure to follow the doctor's instructions and wear all appliances consistently.

Playing Sports with Braces

Good news, athletes! You can still play all your favorite sports with braces. We strongly recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect your smile and orthodontic appliances. Need help finding the right mouthguard? We’re happy to help!

If you experience a sports-related injury that affects your braces, check for any loose teeth or damaged wires and contact our office right away. In the meantime, wax and warm salt water rinses can help ease any discomfort.

At The Smile Makers at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics, we’re here to make your braces journey smooth and successful! If you ever have questions about caring for your braces or need assistance, call our office or schedule an appointment. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.

All of our doctors have achieved Board Certification with the American Board of Orthodontics. Being Board Certified means our doctors have demonstrated the ability to diagnose and treat the most challenging orthodontic problems, and achieve beautiful and functional results! This certification is attained by only a fraction of orthodontists in the country, and we are the only Board Certified Orthodontists in the area. Choose to be treated by the best!