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What You Need To Know

There are a few important things you need to know about what your life will be like while you wear braces - which are essential both in terms of preparing yourself and to help make sure you make the best possible decisions at all times.

orthodontic model and dentist tool - demonstration teeth model of varities of orthodontic bracket or brace

What To Eat/Not Eat With Braces

For example, while traditional braces probably won't impede your current diet in any major way, there ARE some foods you'll want to avoid. Failure to do so could run the risk of damaging either the metal brackets or wires that make up your braces, which you would want to avoid to prevent delaying your treatment for any longer than you have to. These foods include but are not limited to ones like:

  • Chewy foods, examples of which include things like bagels, licorice, pizza crusts, and any type of French bread
  • Chewy foods like popcorn, chips, ice, and hard candies like lollipops and thick pretzels
  • Any type of food that is particularly sticky like caramel candies, chewing gum, and gummy candies
  • Hard foods like nuts and hard candies
  • Any foods that require you to really bite into them to eat them, which include things like corn on the cob, apples, carrots, ribs, and chicken wings

Having said all of that, braces absolutely do not have to change your eating habits in any significant way. In fact, there are still a huge variety of different foods you can enjoy like:

  • Dairy Products
  • Bread
  • Grains
  • Meats
  • Seafood
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Desserts Like Cake and Ice Cream

Best Practices For Extra-Curricular Activities

If you lead a particularly active lifestyle, you should know you will still want to wear a mouthguard during athletic play. If you play an instrument, you may find it a little bit of a challenge to adjust to wearing your braces at first. Make sure you use a lot of wax and warm salt water rinses to help toughen your lips and cheeks. Don't worry, stick at it - practice makes perfect!

Playing Sports in Braces

Different Types of Braces

Types of Braces to Choose From

Generally speaking, there are two main types of braces that you can choose from, depending on your needs. These include:

  • Clear braces. The only major difference between these and traditional braces is that they are, as the name suggests, clear. They're made from a transparent metal (or ceramic in some cases) designed to blend in with your teeth, as opposed to the classic silver-toned metal you're probably thinking of. These are a great option for anyone who would prefer a discrete look but who may not be a candidate for Invisalign.
  • Metal braces. These offer your orthodontist an almost unprecedented level of control when it comes to how your treatment plays out. They allow literally every tooth to be shifted precisely where it needs to be, thus creating the perfect smile you've always wanted.

Caring For Your Braces

Overall, you'll want to make sure to brush several times a day (which you should really be doing already) and replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. Make sure that you brush or rinse after literally every meal and floss whenever you have the chance to do so. You'll also want to take care to wear your rubber bands as directed by your dental professional to make sure that treatment goes off without a hitch.