Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to take care of your braces properly throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
  • Brushing with Braces

    When you have braces, it’s vital to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.

    Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use a powered toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness.

    Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.

    brushing with braces

  • Flossing with Braces

    Flossing after every meal will help keep your teeth and braces clean, which will also help keep your treatment time on track. To floss with braces, use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to thread the floss behind each wire. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, but leave a few inches of taught floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles.

    Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all your teeth. If you find that your floss is not removing all the food particles between your teeth and around your braces, ask us about a water flosser!

    flossing with braces

  • Eating with Braces

    Don’t worry; you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! Before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, however, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

    Foods to avoid with 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 with 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
  • Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances

    When you first get your braces, you may notice 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, we 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, but do not swallow the salt water.

    If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is 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. We would be happy to give you some wax you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

  • Loose Teeth

    If your teeth begin to feel 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 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 fix the loose wire temporarily by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire carefully and gently back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the end of it 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 wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances consistently as prescribed by Dr. Khan.

  • Playing Sports with Braces

    Game, set, and match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

    In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and appliance immediately for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can relieve the discomfort temporarily by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.

testimonial

“I have had such a great experience at Orthodontic Boutique. The staff is wonderful and always greets you warmly. I have seen an amazing improvement in my smile. I am grateful that we chose Orthodontic Boutique for my Invisalign!”

testimonial

“Dr. Khan and her team did such an amazing job straightening my teeth. The staff is very nice. There are Lots of exciting decorations and contests in the office. I’m glad my mom found Dr. Khan and her staff because it really helped my confidence in life. When I was done I felt good smiling a lot and happy to show my teeth.”

testimonial

“Right when you walk into their office you feel so welcomed by everyone. The people there were always smiling and making you feel at home. My experience at this office changed the way I think of the orthodontist and I wouldn't have done it any other way!!”

testimonial

“Dr. Khan is the real bomb! The journey was worth it and I smile a lot more now! Smiles do come true here!”

testimonial

“The staff at Orthodontic Boutique is fantastic, fun and very professional. Wait times are minimal because they are very punctual. They offer flexible appointment times and are always willing to work with you to make it as convenient as possible. My results far exceed my expectations. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”

testimonial

“The best thing I like about Orthodontic Boutique is the caring, detailed knowledge of Dr. Khan and her staff. Thanks to her, I smile more!”

testimonial

“This is probably the most warm and welcoming place that will ever exist in the world. Everyone here is super helpful and willing to go the extra mile for the patient. I love it here so much that I make a 2-hour round trip drive to go to my appointments. “

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“Dr. Khan and TEAMKHAN are fantastic! Always a great experience every time I go there! I love my SMILE! Thank you!!!”

testimonial

“My smile gleams out whenever I’m at Orthodontic Boutique. I’m so content with how much care and diligence Doctor Khan devotes towards my dental treatment. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. There is always a fun new creative activity in the office to look forward too. Moreover, I warmly thank Doctor Khan from the bottom of my heart for giving me a glamorous smile that I wear proudly!”

testimonial

“Invisalign is worth it! I only trust the best provider in town! Dr. Khan and her team have exceptional work ethics. The environment is welcoming and at the same time FUN!”

testimonial

“I’m much more confident with my smile now that my teeth are straight and nice. It’s easy for my mom to drop me off every appointment. It is conveniently located near our neighborhood. We are lucky!”

testimonial

“I have enjoyed being a patient of Orthodontic Boutique. The entire team is friendly and the office has a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Dr. Khan personally followed my progress at each visit and, thanks to her attentiveness, my teeth look great. Thank you, Dr. Khan and team.“

testimonial

“I can't fully express how amazing my experience was at this office! Dr. Khan and all the ladies were so professional, friendly, and welcoming. It was definitely tough having braces while in college, but walking into the office and seeing everyone's positive attitudes and smiling faces made me realize the journey would be well worth it! I couldn't be happier with my beautiful teeth and I thank all of these wonderful women from the bottom of my heart!! I LOVE Orthodontic Boutique!”

testimonial

“Dr. Khan and all the staff at the practice are professional, attentive, and thorough. The practice is top notch in helping the patient achieve their goals. As an adult, I appreciated the fact that the office is not an over-the-top,'grand-tech playscape' for kids. I highly recommend Orthodontic Boutique.”

testimonial

“Dr. Khan and her team are nothing short of fantastic! My time at Orthodontic Boutique has been amazing and I couldn't be more grateful!”

Vesna

Clinical Team Member / Inventory Coordinator / (Principal Photo Bomber)

Vesna

I love being part of our patients’ journeys to beautiful, amazing smiles. Our team is awesome and we love having fun and making it a great time for our patients. Dr. Khan is so caring and energetic, which really makes it easy to come to the office every day.

Nicole

Treatment Coordinator

Nicole

We are constantly surrounded by such positive energy here at Orthodontic Boutique! I walk into our office every day with a smile on my face and leave at night with that same smile still there. We are so very blessed here to have such amazing, fun, excited, and enthusiastic patients and team members!

The ladies here are not just my team members, but my life friends. We all put in a hard days’ work but never forget to laugh, smile, and be kind and courteous to one another. Dr. Khan’s faith and confidence in me has sparked both in professional and personal growth, for which I am so very grateful.

Rowena

Clinical Team Member / Marketing Coordinator

Rowena

I love my job. Creating beautiful smiles and making each and every patient happy is an amazing feeling! I love to see the transformation of our patients and their self-confidence. It does not feel like work when everybody is having fun. I’m really lucky to have an amazing team and a fantastic boss!

Valeria

Clinical Team Member / Invisalign® Coordinator

Valeria

I love the connections that I make with our patients and parents throughout the treatment time. It’s amazing to work with people who truly love what they do. Our team is so incredibly supportive to each other. I love how I am challenged daily and constantly learning new skills. Dr. Khan provides great guidance and is always opening doors to new experiences.

Jenise

Scheduling Coordinator

Jenise

I can’t imagine a job more rewarding than being a part of someone’s journey to a healthy, confident smile from start to finish! Our phenomenal team has such great energy. It’s never a day at “work” when you love what you do and who you’re doing it with!

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