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Life With Braces

Home » Braces » Life With Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Foods To Avoid With Braces:

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods You Can Eat With Braces:

  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Bread — 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, fruit juice
  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Soreness Caused From Braces And Appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, 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 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 and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser 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.

Playing Sports With Braces

If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection. In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away.

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Get Started Today

The first step toward achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is to request a free orthodontic consultation with our team.

Request Free Consult
free orthodontic consultation in Riverside

request an appointment

Get Started Today

The first step toward achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is to request a free orthodontic consultation with our team.

Request Free Consult
free orthodontic consultation in Riverside
Our 5-Star Experience

Our 5-Star Experience

Check out what our patients are saying about their experience with us! If you’ve always longed for a healthy, beautiful smile, we’d love to make your dream come true, too!
Great service, started Invisalign treatment with Larson Orthodontics a few months back and I couldn’t be happier. The staff is incredibly helpful during check ups, and it’s incredibly easy... to set up future appointments with them. Dr. Hadid is also extremely nice, and explains everything regarding questions about the treatment process!read more
Mauricio C.
I am on my 3rd month of treatment and I have received really great results, help, and support. Larson Orthodontist on Riverside is very clean and organized. They have very convenient... appointments times that is not too far apart. The timeframe to do a consultation and get braces only took two weeks.This was really great because most places take extremely long for the next available appointment. The workers are very kind, nice, and are really gentle with their work. I am glad I came to this place because they make you feel really welcomed and I trust they will take care of my teeth well.read more
Zahra S.
Larson always greets their clients with smiles and they are always polite.
Michelle S.
Excited because my braces are off and then they gave me this goodie bag 🤩 You guys are truly the best ! Thank you :)
Moni
I love this orthodontic. They are so nice, and they do a great job on my braces.
James
If I could rate it more than a five I would. This office is super nice, with the most efficient dentist I’ve ever been to, hands down! My kiddos have always been scared of going to the... dentist but the staff is just the best, friendly and super welcoming. They explained everything step by step and always make my kiddos feel comfortable and safe, they really love it here. Highly recommend!!!read more
Susiie M.
Very friendly environment all the staff is polite and greet customers. I did not have to wait long before I was seen. Dr. Larson is very honest and answered all of my questions and... concerns. I would recommend anyone interested in braces or Invisalign to Dr. Larson’s office.read more
Porsha M.
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Our locations

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Come by one of our locations and get started today! We look forward to meeting you and your family. It’ll be our pleasure to help you achieve a confident, beautiful smile — one you’ll love for a lifetime!

Locations
  • Riverside
  • 6886 Indiana Ave. Suite A
    Riverside, CA 92506
  • Corona
  • 580 N. Main St.
    Corona, CA 92880
Phone
  • (951) 686-6410
Office Hours
Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday 7:00am – 4:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm

Corona

Riverside

Our locations

come visit us

Come by one of our locations and get started today! We look forward to meeting you and your family. It’ll be our pleasure to help you achieve a confident, beautiful smile — one you’ll love for a lifetime!

Locations
  • Riverside
  • 6886 Indiana Ave. Suite A
    Riverside, CA 92506
  • Corona
  • 580 N. Main St.
    Corona, CA 92880
Phone
  • (951) 686-6410
Office Hours
Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday 7:00am – 4:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
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