Life with Braces

Upon receiving braces, you may need to make some adjustments to your daily habits to protect your new appliances and allow your teeth to shift properly. Dr. Erik TinHan and our team will provide you with plenty of information about caring for your braces. We also invite you to review the following guidelines:

Foods to Avoid
While wearing braces, do not eat:

• Hard foods such as hard candies and almonds
• Crunchy foods such as popcorn, tortilla chips, and ice cubes
• Sticky foods such as caramel, taffy, gum, and jellies
• Foods that must be bitten into, like raw carrots, apples, and corn on the cob
• Non-food items like pencils, pens, and fingernails

Do not pry objects, like bottlecaps, open with your teeth.

Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances
You may experience some initial soreness when you first receive braces, and your tongues, cheeks, and lips may feel irritated for a week or so as they adjust to the braces. We can provide you with wax until your mouth becomes used to the treatment.

Loose Wires and Bands
If a wire or band becomes loose, contact our office right away so that we can make repairs. If an appliance breaks or falls out, save the loose piece and bring it to your appointment.

Loose Teeth
Your teeth may feel a little loose as they shift, and this is normal. Once your teeth are set in their new positions, they will not feel loose any longer.

Take Care of Appliances
A damaged appliance can lengthen the time of treatment. Correctly wearing rubber bands, retainers, headgear, and other appliances allows teeth to move into their proper alignment as quickly as possible.

Playing Sports with Braces
You can continue to play all your favorite sports while wearing braces; however, we encourage you to wear a mouth guard to keep your teeth and braces protected so that you do not experience an injury or orthodontic emergency. You are welcome to ask Dr. Erik TinHan for mouth guard recommendations.

We invite you to contact TinHan Orthodontics today if you would like to learn more about life with braces in Pearl City and Hawaii Kai, Hawaii. Our team can help you schedule an appointment with our dentist if needed.