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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.

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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!
Calista C.
Larson Orthodontist in Riverside is the absolute 💯 best for braces and making kids feel completely comfortable! It's family ran and operated and that makes it feel like family! Dr. Larson is the best!!! Colt Calabretta
Jeanine
Staff are amazing. The process and steps they take to give the best care and outcome are just above and beyond any other place we been to so happy we found them ❣️
Leticia G.
Very friendly and helpful staff. Everyone was very professional and made me and my daughter feel at ease with the process. The facility was very clean and welcoming.
Kristine C.
We recently started our ortho treatment and we're doing well. The staff was friendly, informative, and not pushy at all. They made it very easy for us to ask questions and take the time we needed to decide. They explained the process, what to expect and the whole financial part. Thank you Larson Ortho for having such great staff!
iris S.
This is my 3rd daughter getting braces from Larson and her 2nd phase. I would recommend Larson he is great and always a great experience.
Antwoine T.
Dr. Larson, and his team are great. I was provided with great service at every appointment. Dr. Larson is very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this orthodontist. It’s been over a year since I’ve had my braces removed, and I haven’t had any problems. I love my teeth, and smile! 😀 🦷
Nikki S.
Absolutely amazing orthodontist! My son has horrible dental anxiety and they were amazing with him ! Super fast and he even got treatment done the same day as his Consultation.
Sandi S.
Dr. Larson and his team are great!! My kids and I all go here and we love it. They are fast, efficient, and so friendly. They have a big beautiful office. There are always fun movies playing to keep the kids relaxed during visits. Parents are welcome to sit in the back with the kids during their appointments. They always explain everything they are doing and teach us how to properly care for our braces and Invisalign. :)
Julie S.
Best orthodontists ever! Noticed my son had teeth that weren’t coming down and they got me in right away. I’m so impressed with their kindness and service and so grateful!
Heather C.
We are so grateful for Larson Orthodontics! My son had an emergency situation and Dr. Larson made him feel so comfortable. I knew he was in excellent hands. Thank you for getting him on a s soon as you did! Heather and Bodhi Caton
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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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