My braces hurt. Is that normal? What foods should I avoid eating while in treatment? How should I care for my appliances? When will I get my braces off? What will happen in the time between Phase I and Phase II? Will things sometimes look worse before they will look better during orthodontic treatment? Q:  My braces hurt. Is that normal? A: Discomfort or "tooth soreness" may occur after initial application and adjustment of appliances, but that is just your teeth getting used to the braces or appliance. An over- the-counter analgesic such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen can alleviate the pain in the first few days. Slow chewing on soft foods will help alleviate any soreness. Also, remember to keep your mouth clean at all times by brushing properly after meals. Notify your technician before you leave the treatment chair if a wire is poking or for any unusual sensation of pain. New braces and appliances may irritate and cause a few sores in the oral mucosa initially, but will heal over in a few days, conditioning the overlying mucosa to callous and toughen — alleviating future discomfort. Visit the Emergencies page of our website for more advice on what you can do for pain from a loose or broken wire. You can also call the office for advice or to schedule an emergency visit. Q:  What foods should I avoid eating while in treatment? A good general rule is to avoid all hard and sticky foods. Hard foods knock brackets off the teeth and bend wires and bands. Sticky foods pull wires away from the braces and may pull bands off the teeth. Some examples are: Ice, raw carrots and apples (unless sliced thinly), corn on the cob, hard pizza and crusts, hard pretzels, hard popcorn hulls, corn chips, beef jerky, nuts, peanut brittle, ribs (and bones), suckers, hard candy (i.e. Jolly Ranchers, peppermints, etc.). If it crunches when you bite it, it's probably too hard. Sticky Foods: Caramel or candy apples, chewy caramel candy (i.e. Milk Duds, Sugar Babies, Rolos, etc.), gum taffy (i.e. Starburst, Now-n-Laters), gum drops. Q: How should I care for my appliances? A: In addition to avoiding the above types of food, there are habits that can bend and break your braces: chewing pens and pencils, biting your fingernails, sucking your thumb, nervous picking at your brackets and wires, picking braces with toothpicks or other sharp items. Appliance care is essential to achieving successful results in your treatment. Broken or bent wires and loose bands and brackets increase the length and number of orthodontic appointments thus increasing the amount of time you will have your braces on. Accidents occasionally happen, but most damage to orthodontic appliances is due to patient carelessness. Please make sure you, or your child, follow the above guidelines to ensure success. If you do notice a loose band or bracket, please contact our office immediately so your appliance can be repaired before your teeth move back. Q:  When will I get my braces off? A: Depending on your individual factors, the orthodontist can only estimate the length of time you will wear braces. Usually, adult treatment takes a little longer than a child's treatment. Other factors to consider are severity of the problem, the health of the teeth, gums and supporting bone, growth rates and how closely the patient follows instructions. Your orthodontist and you will discuss your projected time frame (this can be anywhere from 6 months to 30 months). Q:  What will happen in the time between Phase I and Phase II? A: This growth/observation period will involve a combination of retaining the correction that has been made in Phase I and guiding the growth of the permanent teeth into more favorable positions. Because treatment timing is critical, a child's growth and development is monitored very carefully by periodic visits until it is determined that the patient is ready for Phase II. Q:  Will things sometimes look worse before they will look better during orthodontic treatment? A: Yes, the teeth will move in different directions as the teeth are straightening out. You may notice a new space between your two front teeth or teeth that seemed perfectly straight before treatment now appearing less straight. Be patient and things will start to improve. That space will close and those teeth will line up as treatment continues. 2949 SW Wanamaker Dr. | Topeka, Kansas  66614-5325 Phone: (785) 272-6161 | Fax: (785) 272-4627 | Toll Free: 1-888-40 SMILE