Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics New braces come with a small perk most people don't expect: you get to design them. The tiny rubber ties that hold the wire in place, called ligatures, come in nearly every color you can picture, and you pick… Continue reading Choosing the Best Colors for Your Braces: A Complete Guide
Category: Living With Braces
Best Mouthguards for Braces: Protect Your Smile During Sports
Living With Braces 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer If you play sports with braces, wear a mouthguard made for braces, not a standard boil-and-bite. Orthodontic mouthguards are roomier and flexible, so they cushion your lips and cheeks against the brackets, protect the braces themselves, and… Continue reading Best Mouthguards for Braces: Protect Your Smile During Sports
How to Stop Braces Pain Immediately (No, You’re Not Being Dramatic)
Living With Braces 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: To stop braces pain fast, combine four things: cold (cold water or a compress on the cheek), an over-the-counter pain reliever taken as directed, orthodontic wax over anything poking you, and soft foods for a day or… Continue reading How to Stop Braces Pain Immediately (No, You’re Not Being Dramatic)
What Candy Can You Eat With Braces? An Orthodontist’s Guide
Living With Braces 5 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: Soft candy that melts is fine in moderation, and plain chocolate is your best friend. Hard candy and sticky, chewy candy are the ones that break braces, so skip those. Whatever you eat, brush or rinse afterward,… Continue reading What Candy Can You Eat With Braces? An Orthodontist’s Guide
Can You Chew Gum with Braces? A Complete Guide
Living With Braces 5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Gum is the classic braces question, and the classic answer, "absolutely not," deserves a little nuance. Sticky, sugary gum really is a bad idea with braces. But sugar-free gum is a different story, and if you wear clear aligners… Continue reading Can You Chew Gum with Braces? A Complete Guide
Do Braces or Invisalign Hurt? Pain Comparison and Management
Living With Braces 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics · Living With Braces Short answer: Both braces and clear aligners cause mild soreness because both move teeth with steady pressure. Expect a couple of tender days after placement, an adjustment, or a new aligner tray, then it eases.… Continue reading Do Braces or Invisalign Hurt? Pain Comparison and Management
How Often Do You Get Braces Tightened? A Complete Guide
Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics "How often do braces get tightened?" is one of the first things patients ask, usually right after "will it hurt?" Here's the plain version: you'll come in every few weeks for an adjustment, and while people call it a… Continue reading How Often Do You Get Braces Tightened? A Complete Guide
Braces and Playing Instruments or Singing: Everything You Need to Know
Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics If you play in the band or sing, one worry comes up before anything else: will braces mess with my music? It's a fair question, and the honest answer is that there's a short adjustment, not a dead end.… Continue reading Braces and Playing Instruments or Singing: Everything You Need to Know
Canker Sores and Braces: Causes, Prevention, and Relief
Living With Braces 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Canker sores are small, painful ulcers inside the mouth. Braces can trigger them when a bracket or wire rubs the lip or cheek, especially in the first couple of weeks. They are not contagious and are not… Continue reading Canker Sores and Braces: Causes, Prevention, and Relief