What is daily life with braces like, and what do patients ask?

The first week, and what to eat and drink

Meals change once braces go on: the practice's foods list names hard and sticky foods to avoid, and the AAO says sugary and acidic drinks can dissolve tooth enamel.

• Your first week with braces follows the bonding visit, the tender days after it, soft first meals and going back to school or work.
• Foods to avoid sorts foods into hard, sticky, chewy, crunchy and sugary, with a list of foods you can still enjoy.
• What you can drink with braces points to tap water and milk, the AAO's recommended drinks, and gives its reasons for avoiding sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks.

Keeping braces clean, and problems between visits

Cleaning around brackets and wires is part of every day with braces, and so is knowing which problems are true emergencies that need treatment immediately and which ones are a call to your orthodontist's office.

• Brushing and flossing covers the daily routine during treatment and the professional dental cleanings that go with it.
• Emergency info draws the line between true emergencies, such as an injury to the mouth or face, and problems like a loose bracket, which the AAO says your orthodontist still needs to know about so the office can tell you whether it needs to be seen right away or can wait until your next visit.

Appointments, big days and braces myths

Visits, school days and special occasions raise planning questions, while the myths about braces get answers straight from the AAO.

• Appointments and missed school explains why each treatment plan sets its own number of visits, and which appointments the AAO says are the longest, the ones to place and remove the braces.
• Braces and a special event addresses early removal before a wedding or other big day, which the AAO says to discuss with your orthodontist, and what to do if something breaks first.
• Braces myths checks the stories about lightning, rust, radio signals and locked braces against the AAO's answers.

Choosing braces at your consultation

The metal braces page goes over what metal braces are, their pros and cons and their use for adults, and clear ceramic braces blend with the natural color of the teeth.

At your consultation, the orthodontist explains the options for your teeth, such as braces or Invisalign.