TIPS
& BRACES FAQS
Check out these common questions about life with braces, and if you still need answers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
General Patient Care
Will I need
rubber bands or braces elastcs?
This will be determined during your initial exam. Some patients need rubber bands to align their bite, while others don’t. It all depends on your unique case.
Elastics, or rubber bands, are one of the most common appliances used during treatment with braces. Elastics are hooked around a bracket on the top teeth and a bracket on the bottom teeth to exert persistent (but gentle) force. Over time, this force aligns the teeth and jaw bones and treats malocclusions (poor bite conditions), like overbites, underbites, cross bites, and open bites.
What if my elastics break?
If your elastics break, simply replace them with a new one. If you run out of elastics, call our office and we will gladly ship you a new pack.
Although it’s not common for elastics to break, sometimes opening too wide or too much stretch of the elastic will cause it to tear. If your elastics repeatedly break, contact our office and we will fit you to a more appropriate elastic size.

What can I eat with braces?
As a general rule, be sure to avoid anything sticky, crunchy, or hard.
Knowing what to eat your first week with braces takes some of your own discretion. During the first week of your treatment, as your teeth and gums are adjusting, you may want to choose softer foods, like pasta, tuna, mashed potatoes, or soup. You can integrate harder foods into your diet as soon as you’re feeling up to it.
Here’s a list of foods you can eat with braces:
- Dairy — cream cheese, pudding, milk
- Breads — tortillas, pancakes, muffins,
- Grains — pasta, rice, cereal
- Meats — soft chicken, soft meatballs, lunch meats
- Vegetables — cooked carrots, peas, beans
- Fruits — bananas, kiwis, strawberries, grapes
- Treats — ice cream (no nuts), milkshakes, Jell-O, frozen yogurt
How do I brush and floss with braces?
When you get your braces on, we’ll show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth!
Maintaining your oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, bacteria can grow between your teeth and around your brackets and archwires, causing permanent stains, cavities, or gum disease.
We recommend brushing more often (three times a day) to prevent potential plaque build-up. Floss daily, and use a water flosser to clear away any food debris that might be caught.
With traditional metal braces or clear braces, you can use a specialized flossing threader that makes it easier to insert the floss thread between your teeth and braces. Specialized flossing threaders have a solid end that help you push the floss through the archwires.
Here’s how to brush properly with any type of braces:
- Brush the outside and inside of your teeth, as well as the chewing surface and gumline.
- Brush in small circles to reach between your archwires and around the corners of your brackets.
- Make sure you’re brushing thoroughly, but gently enough to avoid damaging your braces.
Check out this video to see Dr. Howle demonstrate the proper way to brush and floss your teeth with braces!
Orthodontic
Retainers
What are retainers?
Retainers are worn after braces or Invisalign treatment to maintain the corrected position of the teeth. There are a number of different types of retainers that are available to you. Ask your orthodontist which one will best suit your needs. One of our talented doctors will instruct you on how long you should wear your retainers.
How do I take care of my retainers?
We offer Retainer-Brite at our office. Simply soak your retainers in Retainer-Brite, and they should look good as new. We also recommend brushing your retainers after you take them out. Do not allow your retainers to sit in hot water or put in the dishwasher as this will deform your retainers.
Always keep your retainers in a case when not in your mouth. Never keep your retainers in a napkin – this is the most common reason retainers are accidentally thrown away!
