Orthodontic Care Guide

At I Song Orthodontics, we’re committed to providing quality orthodontic care to patients of all ages. We offer a variety of treatment options, including Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, so that you can find a solution that fits into your budget and your lifestyle. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook!

While it’s important to take care of your teeth all the time, it’s even more important when you have braces. There is a higher possibility for decay while your teeth are under braces because the wires, bands, and brackets make it more difficult to reach all the spaces in between your teeth. Dr. Song has provided some helpful tips for keeping your smile healthy!

Brushing & Flossing with Braces

For optimum results, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush your teeth in small, circular motions. Try to gently brush by the gum line to release food particles that may be stuck under there. Hold the brush at an angle and brush between the braces along with every surface of the teeth.

Flossing is just as important as brushing because it cleans the areas around the teeth that a toothbrush can’t. Flossing will be more time-consuming and difficult while you’re wearing braces but your healthy, beautiful smile will be worth it. Think of your braces as your second set of teeth. As long as they’re clean, your teeth will be clean!

Also, be sure to continue seeing your general dentist throughout your orthodontic treatment.

Foods to Avoid with Braces

Even though braces seem sturdy and set in place, they are actually very fragile and need to be taken care of. Certain foods can break or damage your braces, leading to a longer treatment time. Foods that are sticky, sugary, or hard should be avoided as sticky foods get caught in between brackets and wires and hard foods can potentially break or damage the brackets or wires. We’ve provided a helpful list of foods to avoid. This is not a complete list, so use your best judgment and common sense when you’re faced with certain food!

Examples of Sticky/Sugary Foods to Avoid:

✔ Gum (sugar-free or regular)
✔ Licorice
✔ Sugar Daddies
✔ Toffee
✔ Tootsie Rolls
✔ Caramels
✔ Skittles
✔ Starburst
✔ Taffy
✔ Carbonated drinks

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

✔ Ice
✔ Nuts
✔ Hard taco shells
✔ French bread crust/rolls
✔ Corn on the cob
✔ Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
✔ Bagels
✔ Chips
✔ Jolly Ranchers
✔ Pizza crust
✔ Hard chocolates
✔ Uncooked carrots (unless cut)

Extra Tips:

  • Take extra precaution when eating fruits with pits as you could accidentally bite into the pit. This would include fruits like peaches and plums.
  • Cut meat off of the bone to ensure you won’t accidentally bite into the bone.
  • Avoid chewing pencils, fingernails, and ice.
  • Do not bite into anything and then pull away with your teeth. This could pull on your braces leading to bending or breaking them.

Keep in mind that the list above is not a complete list. Use common sense when it comes to eating certain foods. If you cannot cut it into smaller pieces, it’s probably not a good idea to eat it. It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office at (510) 528-2220 immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.

So, What Can You Eat?

While the list of foods you can’t eat may seem long, there are still plenty of foods you can eat while wearing your braces, including:

✔ Soups
✔ Applesauce
✔ Baba ganoush
✔ Brown rice
✔ Sushi
✔ Pulled apart meats
✔ Bananas
✔ Egg salad

✔ Fish
✔ Yogurt
✔ Shredded carrots
✔ Scrambled eggs
✔ Oatmeal
✔ Curry
✔ Cream of wheat

✔ Tuna salad
✔ Mashed potatoes
✔ Cooked vegetables
✔ Soft whole-grain breads
✔ Fruit smoothies
✔ Shrimp
✔ Turkey burger
✔ Tabouleh

✔ Pasta
✔ Meatloaf
✔ Oranges
✔ Cottage cheese
✔ Hummus
✔ Tofu
✔ Quinoa

Palatal Expansion

A Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) is used to create a wider space in the upper jaw so that it fits well with the lower jaw. Sometimes, the upper arch is too narrow for the lower jaw or the upper teeth can become crowded or blocked out of the natural dental arch. An expander works well for younger patients who are still growing, meaning the connective tissue between the left and right halves of their upper jaw is more responsive to expansion. We’ll provide you with a special key that you’ll use to turn a screw in the appliance and the upper palate will gradually expand. If Dr. Song decides this treatment is for you, an RPE will be custom-made for you. You’ll wear the appliance for at least six months. Here’s what to expect:

✔ Possible discomfort in the back teeth for 48-72 hours after placing the RPE.
✔ Awkwardness with swallowing and speech for several days after the RPE is placed.
✔  Gap development between upper front teeth. This is normal and temporary.
✔ Pressure for a short period of time after the RPE is activated each time.

Taking care of the RPE is simple. If you have any questions about how to use it, contact our office for help. Simple instructions include:

✔ Insert the hex key into the activation screw at the 12 o’clock position or have the plastic handle pointing up toward your nose.

✔ If the patient is initiating the expansion, turn the key counter clockwise by pushing on the embossed target sign on the expansion handle. If a parent or another adult is initiating the expansion, turn the key clockwise instead.

✔ Follow your orthodontist’s instructions as to how many turns should be made each day.

✔ Avoid chewy or hard candy and do not chew ice.

✔ Do not play with the RPE with your tongue or fingers.

Invisalign Care & Instruction

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We look forward to meeting you & seeing you smile!