Lavrin and Lawrence Orthodontics

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them?

Eating with Braces

When braces are first fitted it is important to have softer food for the first 24 hours until the glue for the braces has entirely set. There are certain foods to avoid throughout your entire orthodontic treatment because these can damage your new appliances.

Foods to avoid with braces:

• Chewy foods - muesli bars, licorice
• Crunchy foods - popcorn, corn chips, ice
• Sticky foods - caramels, lollies, chewing gum
• Hard foods - nuts, hard lollies
• Foods that require biting into - corn on the cob, apples, carrots (these however can still be consumed if cut up into bite size pieces)

Soreness caused from braces and appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just had braces fitted, and we promise your mouth will not be tender forever! To relieve the pain, you can dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If required, you can also try taking a pain reliever/headache pill like Panadol or Nurofen. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen up and become used to the braces. Please use the orthodontic wax that we gave you. If you need some more, then please let us know!

Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth in order to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

The wires, bands and brackets may on rare occasions become loose. If this happens, please contact us So we can assess and if necessary schedule an appointment to repair. In some cases, it can wait until your next appointment.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using tweezers or the rubber on the end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Take Care of your Braces

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment, so be sure to take care of your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed.

Click here to read more about the proper care of your appliances

Brushing Your Teeth with Braces

When you have braces it's very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment.

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match - we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and braces. You should purchase a mouldable mouthguard from a chemist or sports store.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your appliance has been damaged, please contact our office. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort with wax or by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.