FOOD DO’S & DON’TS WITH BRACES

Actual Patient

Keeping your braces on your teeth in key to keeping your orthodontic treatment progressing effeciently! If a bracket comes off your tooth, not only is the tooth not moving where we want it go, it may be moving in the wrong direction… this could add an additional month or more to your time in braces.

We use strong “glue” to hold the braces on your teeth, but we don’t use permanent glue – we do want them to come off when you’re done! That means that you need to be careful about what you bite in to.

Brackets are also “plaque-traps” – food and plaque will stick to them. Avoid foods that are really chewy and sticky, and make sure to brush after you eat to remove any food particles. Allowing plaque to sit against your teeth all day can lead to:

• demineralization of your teeth
• permanent white “tooth scars” called white-spots
• cavities