Life With Braces

WITH THE RIGHT PLAN - IT’S AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE

Life with braces is much easier than it used to be, especially when you get your braces at Tighe Orthodontics. That’s because Dr. Tighe offers the latest technologies to every patient; many designed to make life with braces more comfortable.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS after each appointment there here might be some general tenderness of your teeth and mouth. Your teeth might even feel a little loose (after all – they are on the move.) You may want to take some form of pain reliever (what you would normally take for a headache) during this time. Tenderness usually subsides within a few days. Here are some helpful tips:

Helpful Tips

  • We recommend you use a soft bristled tooth brush with a small head. Electric and sonic tooth brushes are also acceptable.
  • Brush your teeth after meals and snacks.
  • If you have eaten while away from home, use your interdental brush todislodge any food that may get caught around your braces.
  • Rinsing with water is another way to dislodge food from your braces, and to keep sugar from sitting on your teeth.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • We rcommend that you have a check up with your dentist every 6 months.

Eating With Braces

You’ve probably heard from friends and family members who have worn braces that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in treatment. That’s true - if your favorite food is hard candy:-). Truth is - you can eat most anything as long as you avoid anything that might cause you to lose a bracket, break a wire, or get tangled up in goo. Here’s a simple, helpful guide to help you avoid any issues. Feel free to print this list out and put it up on the fridge.


Foods to AVOID with braces:


  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum (sugar-free gum is okay)
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces:


  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
  • Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake