Miller Orthodontic Specialists in Keene, Rindge, NH and Brattleboro, VT

Smiles by Dr. Miller

Caring for Braces

Brushing and Flossing

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy during orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Watch the two videos below on the proper care of braces during orthodontic treatment.

Eating with Braces

What can you eat? Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you’re wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid

  • Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
  • Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice
  • Sticky foods: caramels, gum
  • Hard foods: nuts, candy
  • Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for 3 – 5 days. Take Tylenol or whatever you normally take for headache or discomfort. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces. We will supply wax to put on the braces in irritated areas to lessen discomfort.

Loosening of Teeth

This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don’t worry! It’s normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can move. The teeth will firm up in their new — corrected — positions after treatment is completed.

Loose Wire or Band

Don’t be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire sticks out and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire back under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the problem.

Rubber Band Wear

To successfully complete orthodontic treatment, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands or other appliances as prescribed. Lack of cooperation following instructions and damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time… so please … follow instructions.

Athletics

If you play sports, it’s important you let us know. A protective mouthguard is provided for playing contact sports.

Mind P
Mind P
18:02 14 Feb 23
STRONGLY RECOMMEND!!I came all the way from Cape Cod for this.I have bonded retainer for 6-7... years and it's broken. Called several places and it's kind of expensive to remove it. Plus, I will have to wait for about a month.Miller Orthodontic provided reasonable price and scheduled me as soon as they could which is so awesome!Also, everyone is very friendly and helpful! I have dentophobia so I couldn't help low key stressing out in there but everybody is so gentle and kind. Definitely will keep coming back!!read more
Lacie Plante
Lacie Plante
21:17 13 Feb 23
Amazing service and help. My teeth have made a huge improvement and I love the staff they are so... nice and friendly ♡read more
Heidi Hathaway
Heidi Hathaway
21:05 13 Feb 23
First and foremost the staff here is incredibleEvery single time and I mean EVERY TIME I am... welcomed by my name, friendly smiles, laughter and dang if they all don't remember everything that is important and personal to you as a patient. You will never regret becoming part of this professional family!! Shout out to Candie who never fails to give me extra love, remembers my family and has never blinked an eyelash at the ups and downs of my life that might be annoying to work with when assisting a client. This people are so real, so friendly, so knowledgeable.All you ladies I send so much appreciation for your support on my " smile journey".Dr. Miller for your high level of tolerance of those clients that take longer then they should because we let life get in the way.Thank you for never giving up on those of us who need a place like yours :)read more
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