Dr. Judith Okun is an experienced orthodontist providing braces for patients in Port Chester, Rye Brook, and White Plains in Westchester County, NY and Greenwich, CT. If you are interested in getting braces, contact Dr. Okun to schedule a consultation today!

The Art of Eating with Braces

For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Before long, you'll be able to eat your normal foods again. However, there are some foods that you'll need to avoid in order to protect your orthodontic appliances and teeth.

Examples of Foods to Avoid:

Crunchy Foods

• Popcorn (avoid with an expander. Eat only popped, fluffy pieces when there is no expander)
• Ice
• Thick or hard chips

Sticky Foods

• Caramels
• Tootsie Rolls, Mike and Ikes, chewing gum, taffy, gummy bears, jelly beans

Hard Foods

• Nuts
• Candy

Foods You Have to Bite Into

• Corn on the cob (cut the corn from the cob)
• Meat on the bone (cut it off)
• whole apples (cut into thin pieces)
• raw carrots (cut into thin pieces, or cook)
• Bagels, pizza crust (cut into thin pieces)
• Fat sandwiches (eat open faced, or on thinner bread)

Candy that has sugar and other foods that are high in sugar content, especially if they sit in your mouth for an extended period of time.

• Lollipops
• Sucking candies
• Rinse your mouth after cookies and cake.

Soda

• Coke, diet coke, seltzer
• Any carbonated beverage

Foreign objects that are not food

• DO NOT CHEW Pens, pencils, fingernails

Rubbing of Braces on Lips and Cheeks

When you first get your braces, they may rub on your lips and cheeks. Place wax over the rubbing bracket before these spots get raw and painful. Soon you will learn to not push your tongue and cheek against the braces, and the skin will toughen up so that you don't need wax.

General Soreness

Your teeth may be a little tender when you first get your new appliances. However, this soreness will get better within a few days. If the tenderness is severe, you can take Tylenol, or any pain reliever that you normally take for headache or discomfort. Tylenol is better to take on a regular basis than Aspirin or Advil, since Aspirin and Advil slow tooth movement. Try to limit the use of Advil or Aspirin to the first 24 hours after an adjustment. You also have the option to use the electric stimulation treatment in the office that will take away the tenderness.

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Loosening of Teeth

This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new—straight—positions.

Care of Appliances

Athletics

If you play contact sports, it's important for you to wear a mouth guard. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone our office for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.

Emergency Care

We recognize that emergency situations do arise and will do our best to respond promptly.  If no one is available to take your call please leave a message on the answering machine.  We usually respond in less than 24 hours.  Emergency care is provided on a same day basis whenever possible.

Many orthodontic emergencies can be taken care of at home. Please view the list below of the most common problems our patients encounter. You may be able to resolve the immediate problem, and have us permanently resolve it at a later time. If you are unable to resolve the problem, please call the office. We reserve time each day for emergency patients. If you have a problem requiring urgent treatment, please call us as early in the day as possible.

Common Orthodontic Emergencies:

• A broken bracket usually does not need to be repaired immediately, but can wait for several days. Please call the office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment to have the bracket repaired. If a loose band or bracket is still attached to the archwire, leave it in place.  If it is uncomfortable, place wax on it.  If it comes out completely save it and bring it to your appointment. Note:  If a loose band is attached to a palatal expander please call as soon as possible!
• A loose wire can often be placed back into the tube in the back of your mouth with the help of needle nose pliers or tweezers. Sometimes it can be held in place with wax.   If neither is possible, clip the wire with fingernail clippers behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.  Place wax over the end if it is uncomfortable.
• A poking wire can be temporarily treated by placing a small piece of wax on the protruding wire. Orthodontic wax is always available to our patients at the office. If you need wax after office hours, most drug stores carry orthodontic wax.
• A lost tie-wire or elastic tie can sometimes be replaced temporarily by tying floss around the bracket.  In any case please notify us at the next appointment.
• If your headgear does not fit please call to schedule an extra appointment and bring it with you.  It is possible that it is bent and needs to be adjusted.

If you have a lost or broken retainer, we should replace it as soon as possible so that your teeth do not move.

Dr. Judith Okun's practice is located in Rye Brook, serving Port Chester, Rye Brook, and White Plains in Westchester County, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut. Dr. Okun offers braces, including Invisalign and In-Ovation braces.

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