YOUR BRACES

After your bonding appointment, your braces may feel a a little awkward and you should expect some soreness. All of this is completely normal and usually subsides within a week. The brackets may feel rough for the first few weeks, your assistant will show you how to apply orthodontic wax to help with this sensation. Our office always has extra wax to offer, you can stop by any time if you ever need any extra.

Everyone’s experience with braces is individual, however most of the soreness is usually gone after the first few days following your bonding appointment. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers and eat softer foods in the initial days following your appointment. We also recommend you take these medications before your bonding appointment as well.

 

EATING WITH BRACES

 

We bond your braces using a durable adhesive, however, certain foods can still cause your brackets to detach. The best way to achieve your desired results is to ensure we have as few disruptions to treatment as possible. We recommend our patients try to avoid eating anything hard, crunchy, or sticky during their treatment to avoid setbacks. We also ask patients to be mindful about harder fruits and vegetables – cut them into bite sized pieces first, never bite straight into an apple or a carrot while you are in treatment.

Frequently eating restricted foods can add to your treatment time. If you have any specific food questions regarding your braces, Dr. Larkin and staff will be happy to guide you. If you are unsure if a certain food is braces safe or not, it is best to assume it is not and avoid it until you can ask Dr. Larkin.