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Life With Braces

Home » Braces » Life With Braces

Your Guide To Braces

When it’s time to get braces in Charleston, there may be several things running through your mind. What will you be able to eat? How will you look? Will you speak differently? Will braces hurt? These are all questions you can ask our team, but once your braces are put on your teeth, there are definitely a few minor changes you can expect. Here are some braces tips you need to know!

There Will Be Certain Foods To Avoid

Your favorite foods may be off-limits because they could damage your braces. Chewy foods, like bagels, licorice, or gum, as well as crunchy foods like popcorn, chips, apples, and raw carrots, all run the risk of getting stuck in or damaging your braces.

Food limitations make it seem as though braces are taking away the fun of eating, but it’s an important precaution you should take to ensure your treatment progresses as it should. Any oral health concerns or damage to your braces can prolong treatment, so we recommend you keep your teeth as healthy as possible.

However, for all the foods you can’t eat, there are plenty you can! Feel free to indulge in dairy products, pancakes, muffins, chicken, lunch meats, fish, mashed potatoes, and bananas as well as occasional soft sweets — just make sure you’re brushing after every meal!

Braces Need To Be Taken Care Of

Because you’re exposing them to the same bacteria as your tooth enamel, your braces also run the risk of building up plaque. Brushing and flossing are crucial with braces, and doing so on a regular basis will help keep your teeth strong and free of cavities.

We usually recommend brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing once a day to remove the plaque from between your teeth and braces. Our team can give you specific brushing and flossing instructions and recommend tools you can use to make the process much easier. Many of our patients invest in a water pik, which is a great addition to brushing and flossing while in braces but shouldn’t be used to replace them.

You Might Feel Some Discomfort At First

In the beginning, your braces may feel foreign in your mouth. Speaking will take some getting used to, and you might feel some irritation along your gums and lips. Any tenderness that you feel is normal and should subside once your mouth adjusts to the brackets and wires.

Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water will soothe any sensitive areas, and there are special waxes that you can spread onto your braces to eliminate friction. Over-the-counter pain relievers are also effective at treating irritation. Our team can suggest other ways to alleviate soreness as well.

Slightly Loose Teeth Are Normal, But Loose Appliances Are Not

It may be shocking to feel your teeth becoming loose with braces, but we can assure you it’s perfectly normal. For you to have a healthier, straighter smile, your teeth need to loosen and move according to your treatment plan. Once your teeth reach their proper place, they will feel normal again. Don’t worry if you are temporarily a loose-teeth kid, you will be okay!

On the other hand, if you have an archwire or bracket that has come loose, it’s important that you call our office. There are many ways to fix these issues over the phone without having to come to our office, and we will be able to either give you the instructions you need or schedule an appointment if necessary.

Use Caution When Playing Sports

Your braces shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you love! Feel free to participate in extracurricular activities like you always have, but if you play a sport, we recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces from injury.

Braces take some getting used to, but in time, they will become a regular part of your life. If you have additional questions or concerns about your orthodontic treatment with braces, contact one of our offices and we will be glad to help you.

Caring For Your Braces

When you brush:

  • Place the bristles of your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums
  • Make gentle brushing motions in a circular pattern
  • Brush the outer surface of your tooth enamel along with the areas that you use to chew
  • Use the upper portion of your toothbrush to clean the inner surfaces of each tooth

When you floss:

  • Use 18 inches of dental floss and wrap the ends around both index fingers
  • Gradually unravel the floss and thread it between your braces and archwire
  • Make a C-motion as you floss around your braces
  • Use the same motion between each tooth

Repeat this technique for every area around your braces and each tooth.

Your teeth will maintain their health if you brush your teeth after every meal and floss once per day. Frequent brushing ensures any remaining bacteria are removed every time you clean your teeth.

We also recommend avoiding certain foods that may make it harder to clean your teeth. Sugary, sticky, and chewy foods can become lodged in between or within the surface of the teeth and be difficult to remove.

If you are having trouble brushing or flossing efficiently, talk to our orthodontists or a team member about other tools you can use to remove plaque from your teeth. These tools include a two-minute timer that helps you allocate the appropriate amount of time to your teeth as you brush, and a floss threader, which makes it easier to work the floss around the brackets and wires of your braces.

Before bed, we recommend that you use the timer and brush your upper teeth for two minutes and your lower teeth for two minutes. It may seem like an eternity, but getting all the plaque off your teeth before bed is critical due to your salivary flow decreasing at night and increasing your chances of tooth and gum problems if plaque is left on the teeth.

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We want to not only meet your expectations but exceed them! Request a free consultation at one of our locations and get ready to love your smile!

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

There is nothing that warms our hearts more than hearing from patients who have had a great experience at our office. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

You Have the Best Smile | Dr. and Teen Patient
Charles L.
Outstanding Services on getting braces done for your kids or yourself. Dr. Patel and his staff are absolutely squared away and produce great results. Definitely Military Friendly for both active duty and retirees.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Patel and our team. It's great to know that our commitment to providing excellent service resonates with our patients, especially those in the military community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding care!
lexus D.
10/10 service , clean environment and it smells great ! today i came from another dentist and my brackets were different from
the ones they use . long story short they were still able to tightened them for me and i would recommend this dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciated the clean environment. It's great to know we could assist you with your needs. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
tamekica M.
Went to this place about a week ago, and from the front door to the back, customer services was awesome!! Shot out to Mrs. Laurie she was really sweet and pleasant. 10/10.
Response from the owner:We're thrilled to hear that our team, especially Mrs. Laurie, made such a positive impression. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Paula R.
Love this place. Always great service, handsome orthodontist, always take you on time. Kind staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our service and appreciate the punctuality and kindness of our team. Your support means a lot to us!
Shamicka B.
I would absolutely recommend everyone to get serves at Charleston Orthodontist they always do a great job and good customer service , and very clean atmosphere they always have snacks, coffee, tea, and water bottles they most definitely make you feel comfortable and at home. The Orthodontist doctor is the best also love them all very respectful and professional staff. I have been a patient of there's for about three almost four years and never had a problem or disappointment in services. There the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you feel at home with us and appreciate the efforts of our team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re grateful to have you as part of our community for nearly four years. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best care possible!
Andee C.
The office is beautiful and so well kept. All of the staff is so nice and welcoming. I’m very happy with my decision to visit.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and found our office inviting. Our team takes great pride in creating a welcoming environment, and it's fantastic to know that it made a positive impression on you. We look forward to seeing you again!
Mary H.
So impressed with this office. So welcoming. We met everyone and immediately knew this was our choice for braces
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and confident in your choice for braces. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients, and it’s great to know we’re on the right track. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
jeannette B.
I got my braces through them and I love my results. The employees and Doctor are great always make me feel comfortable when am there. If any problems they immediately have you come in to address it. Have referred plenty of people to them
Aliaah J.
My experience here was AWESOME ‼️ Staff is really nice and braces are definitely affordable !
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that you had a great experience! We loved having you!
Lashawna B.
It was a great experience from the moment we walked in and interacted with the front desk to the staff that assisted us. And most importantly, the doctor was very professional and thorough in explaining his recommendations as well as why he recommended what he did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team made a positive impression from the start and that the doctor provided clear and thorough explanations. Your feedback inspires us to continue delivering exceptional care. We appreciate your support!
Sheena N.
Loved my entire experience all the staff and provider was very kind, informative and professional! Results were good improvement .....would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We're so happy to hear that our team made a positive impact and that you saw good results. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Tori S.
10/10 would absolutely come here again if I ever needed to! Everyone is so sweet & professional. Any question, concern or problem I had throughout my treatment were addressed promptly & efficiently. I don’t think I could have chose a better company for my treatment! Amazing experience to say the least
Response from the owner:We have loved having you as a patient Tori! Although your braces journey is coming to an end soon, we hope to see your smiling face again soon. We are so grateful for your confidence in our office!
Chelsea B.
Awesome experience at Charleston Ortho. Ms. Laurie(Llama) and Dr. Patel were amazing. I had to bring my son with me and he stole the show. I’m on day to of my braces and barely any pain. 10/10
Response from the owner:We loved having you both! Bring him anytime :) We are also so happy to hear that you are acclimating to the braces so well! See you soon!
Angelica C.
I love coming to this place because they make me feel comfortable and the people that work at the orthodontics are really nice there. I love coming there
Response from the owner:We love having you here Angelica! Knowing that our patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to their appointments makes our day!
Fire S.
I recommend this to anyone who need orthodontist care. They were very thorough. The process was quick. No long wait, friendly and respectful Team.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review! We're really glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with us. It means a lot that you’d recommend us—and we’ll keep working hard to make sure every visit feels just as friendly and easy. Hope to see you again soon!
Benita N.
Halfway through my orthodontic journey. The staff and specialists at Charleston Orthodontics are great. They keep me informed of my progress and are always available to answer any questions i have regarding my treatment. If you’re looking for an orthodontic practice, give Charleston Orthodontics a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for choosing our office Benita!
william R.
Super friendly and efficient! I had an emergency and needed a replacement retainer! The entire staff from start to finish were professional and compassionate!
Response from the owner:We are so happy that we were able to help out, William!
Lee L.
Can’t say it enough I LOVEEEEEEE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE FROM THE ORTHODONTIST DR. Patel & all of the specialist including front desk❤️❤️❤️
Response from the owner:We LOVEEEE everything about having you as a patient!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
Jennifer W.
Wonderful experience! Waiting time for anything, scheduling and cost, can’t beat it anywhere else. Staff is always pleasant and Dr. Patel is brilliant! I have enjoyed the service and will have my family do service in the future. My treatment came out beautifully!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! Dr. Patel and our entire team truly appreciate your trust and are so happy you're pleased with your results. We’re honored to care for you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Derron D.
I’ve been a patient at Charleston Orthodontics for the past three years while receiving braces, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and always made me feel welcome at every visit. The office is spotless and well-maintained, which made each appointment comfortable. I also really appreciated that the payment plans were reasonable and manageable. Overall, I highly recommend Charleston Orthodontic to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a patient with us for the past three years! We’re happy to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with our team and that our office, care, and payment plans met your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your orthodontic journey. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
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At Charleston Orthodontic Specialists Powered By Smile Doctors, our goal is to give you the healthy, spectacular smile you’ve always wanted. We will work with you every step of the way to make sure your experience with us is as rewarding as possible. 

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  • 1101 N. Main St. Ste. #305
    Summerville, SC 29483

Mt. Pleasant

  • 695 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Ste. #200
    Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

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  • 975 Savannah Hwy. Ste. #107-B
    Charleston, SC 29407

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Friday8:30am – 4:30pm
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