Teen Orthodontics

You Need Braces! What now?

Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:
•    Early treatment — Early treatment allows orthodontists to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment, and in some cases it may be recommended that a patient wait until they are older to receive treatment.
•    What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently, so while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months.
•    YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Foods to avoid while wearing 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 while wearing braces:

•    Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
•    Breads — 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
Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.