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:
AVOID
Chewy: bagels, licorice, Twizzlers, pizza crust, jerky
Sticky: gum, caramel, taffy, Skittles
Hard: nuts, hard candies, sunflower seeds, popcorn, apples, carrots, corn on the cob, brownies with nuts
Sugary food & drink: sodas, candy sweetened drinks, sweets
INSTEAD TRY
Cut hard fruits & veggies into small bite size pieces
Soft nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)
Request an Appointment or Call to schedule your complimentary consultation today
757-482-7660
Christenson Family Orthodontics