Your Journey to a Beautiful Smile at Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics
Thinking about braces to transform your smile? At Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics, we understand the desire for a straighter smile and the questions that come with braces. Dr. Jacklyn Kurth, a leading Bay Area orthodontist, is here to guide you on your journey to a beautiful, healthy smile.
With two convenient locations, we’ve helped countless patients achieve a straighter, healthier smile. To schedule an appointment at our Belmont, CA, orthodontic office, call (650) 592-4850. To schedule your appointment at our Foster City orthodontic office, call (650) 525-9440.
What Are Braces?
Braces are orthodontic appliances used to straighten teeth and correct bite problems. They work by applying gentle, constant pressure on your teeth, gradually moving them into their ideal positions.
- Bracket: The attachment bonded to the tooth or welded to a band
- Archwire: A removable wire that connects all the brackets. This wire works to straighten the teeth.
- Elastic tie: Rubber ring (the colors) that holds the wire in the bracket
- Hooks: Used to attach rubber bands.
- Band: A metal ring with a bracket attached (mainly for back teeth)
Braces can improve your smile’s aesthetics but also offer several functional benefits, such as:
- Improved chewing: Properly aligned teeth distribute chewing forces more evenly, making it easier to eat and reducing stress on your jaw joint.
- Clearer speech: Misaligned teeth can sometimes affect speech patterns. Braces can help improve pronunciation and enunciation.
- Reduced risk of dental problems: Crowded or misaligned teeth are harder to clean effectively, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Braces can help prevent these issues by making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene.
Eating with Braces
Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you’ll need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.
Foods to avoid with braces include:
- Chewy foods: bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, chips, and ice
- Sticky foods: caramel candies, chewing gum
- Hard foods: nuts, hard candies
- Foods that require biting, such as corn on the cob, apples, and carrots
Foods you can eat with braces include:
- Dairy: soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
- Breads: soft tortillas, pancakes, and muffins without nuts
- Grains: pasta, soft-cooked rice
- Meats/poultry: soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, and 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
Adjusting to Life with Braces
Getting braces is an exciting step towards a straighter smile! But it’s natural to have questions about adjusting to life with them. Here’s a quick guide:
- Oral Care: Brushing and flossing become even more important with braces. Use a soft-bristled brush and a flossing tool to navigate around the wires and remove trapped food particles.
- Diet on Braces: Say goodbye to hard, chewy, and sticky foods that can damage your braces. Embrace soft options like yogurt, soups, and cooked vegetables. Cut harder foods into bite-sized pieces.
- Daily Activities with Braces: Most daily activities won’t be affected by braces. However, be mindful when playing musical instruments that involve mouthpieces, as you might need to adjust your technique.
- Sports with Braces: If you participate in sports, wearing a mouthguard is crucial to protect your teeth and braces from impact.
- Speaking with Braces: You might have a slight lisp when you first get braces, but this usually improves within a week or two as your tongue adjusts to the new presence in your mouth.
Caring for Teeth with Braces
Braces don’t mean sacrificing your smile! Here’s how to keep things clean and prevent problems:
- Brushing and Flossing: Brush twice daily for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste, angling it at 45 degrees to clean around braces. Consider an orthodontic brush for better maneuverability. Use a floss threader to floss beneath wires.
- Dietary Do’s and Don’ts: Stick to soft foods like fruits and yogurt. Cut harder foods into small pieces. Avoid sticky candy, nuts, and sugary drinks.
- Extra TLC: Use a fluoride rinse, maintain regular dental checkups, wear a mouthguard for sports, and practice good oral hygiene habits.
Possible Concerns You May Encounter
Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances
When you first get your braces or clear aligners, 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, our orthodontists 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 doesn’t go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It’s 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. Please apply the wax in your complimentary home care kit that you were sent home with.
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 irritating your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear rubber bands, headgear, retainers, or other appliances.
Playing Sports with Braces
You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Please let us know so we can discuss your options at your orthodontic appointment.
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. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wearing braces takes some adjustment, but it’s not necessarily hard. There might be some initial discomfort with this orthodontic treatment, especially after getting your braces on or tightened. However, this usually goes away within a few days. Your orthodontist can provide tips on how to manage soreness and make the process as smooth as possible.
Any soreness you experience is usually temporary and should subside within three to seven days. Using pain relievers, warm salt rinses, and eating soft foods can help during this time.
In some cases, braces can slightly affect your facial profile, but this is usually a positive change. Braces work by moving your teeth, which can sometimes lead to a more balanced and defined jawline.
Braces and wires are designed to gently move your teeth. Biting down on hard foods can damage the brackets, wires, or even your teeth themselves. Sticking to soft foods and cutting up harder options helps prevent any complications. Avoid chewy foods and crunchy foods, as this may trap plaque and food particles in your braces. Use dental floss to remove any particles.
Discover All You Need to Know About Braces with Our Top-Rated Orthodontists
Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics is here to guide you every step of the way during your braces treatment. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to creating personalized treatment plans and ensuring your comfort throughout the process.
Ready to get started? Contact our Foster City orthodontist at (650) 525-9440 or our Belmont orthodontist at (650) 592-4850 to schedule an appointment!