Kids with braces

[tinkerlisa]

My son is having braces put on next month and I have a few questions for parents with kids that have them.

1) What can they eat? I know gum and other chewy stuff and tough meat is out but what else should he not have?

2) We are going to Disney in Sept. What would I do if something happened while he was there?(ie: broken wire, lost rubber band)

Any other info would also be helpful. Thanks!

 

[dogodisney]

My DD didn't like popcorn or corn on the cob. She said it was hard to chew and would get stuck in the braces.
We didn't have any issues with her braces while we were at Disney. It would be a good idea to bring extra rubber bands and if a wire happens to break, your DS should be fine until you get home, then he can see his own orthodontist.

 

[eduk8r26]

When my niece first got her braces on, she had a whole list of things she wasn't supposed to eat--gum being at the top of the list. The only thing she doesn't eat is corn on the cob. She eats everything else she's not supposed to, and I don't think she's ever had a bracket or wire break.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Anything hard or sticky should be avoided including Starburst, Tootsie Rolls, Laffy Taffy, etc. Our orthodontist said popcorn is actually OK as long as you avoid the unpopped kernels. Our son eats it one piece at a time rather than by the handful to make sure a kernel doesn't sneak in. Corn nuts are too hard and can break off a bracket. Corn should be taken off the cob before eating. Apples and other whole fruits should be cut up. Even things like crusty breads (sourdough) should be torn into smaller bites since biting into it could break the brackets on the front teeth.

We found that most of the breakage occurred in the first few weeks. I think we went back twice in the first month to get broken brackets replaced. After my son got the hang of it, eating carefully became automatic. If you're on vacation, you can just get the repair done when you get home. If anything is poking or hurting, you can call your orthodontist and explain the problem. They might have some advice to make it feel better. You'll also get a pack of wax that can be used to cover any areas that are sharp or painful.

Our orthodontist has also told us that most minor breaks won't delay treatment if you get them fixed as soon as you can. If that means waiting a week until you're back from vacation, it shouldn't be a problem. If your son is a couple of months into treatment when you go on vacation, he should be an old pro by then and not have any problems.

 

[WLfamily]

When my niece first got her braces on, she had a whole list of things she wasn't supposed to eat--gum being at the top of the list. The only thing she doesn't eat is corn on the cob. She eats everything else she's not supposed to, and I don't think she's ever had a bracket or wire break.

Same here. My son will have had his braces on four years this July. He has never followed the rules and avoided foods on the list. He has anything he wants anytime he wants. We have only had a wire break once in four years, these wires today are pretty tough. We have been to Disney, the beach, you name it. You will not have any worries, promise. If something were to happen he will be fine until you get back home. If you are like me, your biggest concern will be the cost of the darn things. Good Luck and have fun in Disney!!!

 

[jennyf2]

My son (15) just got his braces off after 1 1/2 years. He followed the "rules" for the 1st month & then he ate pretty much what he wanted. They only thing he wanted to eat but didn't was corn on the cob. He never had a broken wire or a bracket fall off

 

[dyna]

DD did have an odd wire come loose at disney that was really poking her NO WAY she was gonna make it thru the day much less thru the trip with it poking her the way it was. Quick trip to First Aid took care of it. First Aid attendant wouldn't fix the problem but DH stuck the nail clippers from First Aid in DD's mouth an cut off the wire. We took care of the wire at the orthodontist office soon as we got home.

BTW the wire problem was not from anything DD did or didn't do it was a wire that we was gonna have trouble with an knew it up front.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My DS13 has just now passed the 1 year mark for having his braces off.

He had them for about 20 months, but we never had a broken bracket or wire.

The orthodontist will give you a list of things your child is not allowed to have. My biggest thing was keeping the braces clean, because I didn't want white spots on his teeth once the braces were off. I carried a travel toothbrush & paste in my bag at WDW and we made DS brush after each meal. We also bought a Water Pik for him to use at home, and stocked up on those little brushes (they look like mascara wands) so he could clean the little crevices.

He does NOT have any white spots or any cavities, so I am pleased that we put extra effort into keeping the braces really clean.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you eat things you are not supposed to eat, the wires might not break or come off all the time but they could get warped too slightly to notice and a lot of the teeth straightening effect could be lost. This in turn means you have to wear the braces longer.

Plan on spending more time at meals.

Psst! You need to eat carefully all the time. Real teeth can be broken by such things as unpopped popcorn kernels or bits of bone in a hamburger.

Health hints: http://www.cockam.com/health.htm

Something worth trying (with or without braces). Hold the toothbrush by no more than the two inches of the far end of the handle. This will reduce excess force that can wear down the teeth or warp braces. Yes it will take longer to brush your teeth.

 

[DisMomme]

My son has braces right now and his orthodontist said he could chew gum as long as it was the sugar free kind that won't stick to dentures. No taffy or tootsie roll type candies though. He also has to cut apples to eat them. He hasn't had any trouble in the year he has had them on.

Go to your orthodontist and ask for extra wax to bring with you. If a wire does start poking you can cover it with the wax until you get home to see your own orthodontist.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ds is about to get his off after a perfect 2 years. No broken wires at all. He avoided gun and really sticky candy but not much else. He was fine with corn on the cob.

 

[Leajess99]

My son is having braces put on next month and I have a few questions for parents with kids that have them.

1) What can they eat? I know gum and other chewy stuff and tough meat is out but what else should he not have?

2) We are going to Disney in Sept. What would I do if something happened while he was there?(ie: broken wire, lost rubber band)

Any other info would also be helpful. Thanks!

Actually if your child likes gum than you can get the gum like Feedent that will not stick to their braces. My oldest had a chewing tic caused by his meds so we used that on advice of the orthodontist.

Definitely no corn on the cob, popcorn, taffy, or really hard foods.

As for the lost rubberbands, I can't answer that as our orthodontist does not use rubber bands in his braces. He said they hold too much plaque so they have wired braces. We were in Kansas when my son broke a bracket and the wire was poking his cheek so we headed to an orthodontist we used when we lived in Kansas 5 years earlier and they just bent the wire so it was not causing him issues.

Your orthodontist should give you a list of what to do and avoid when your child gets the braces. I would also recommend giving tylenol prior as they do cause some pain at first.