Just getting started with braces:

1. Be gentle with your teeth. If you just had a good long workout, how would you feel? Tired, sore, and achy. Well, that's how your teeth probably feel right now! Stay away from chewy and sticky foods. Find foods that are soft such as yogurt, ripened and sliced fruit, smoothies and milkshakes, Jell-O, soup, etc... ?

2. Eat slowly and carefully. If it hurts to chew something, don't! It will only make your mouth hurt worse. Better yet, don't chew at all. Try mashing the food by pressing it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. If chewing is needed, use your back teeth. Try eating foods such as soup or macaroni and cheese, so you don't have to chew as much.

3. Don't eat foods too high in sugar or starch. Bacteria feeds on sugar and starch, creating plaque. If plaque builds up around your brackets, it can get under your brackets and eat off the calcium on your teeth. This creates permanent, white marks on your teeth. Foods like carmel, taffy, and other foods high in sugar are not good. Refrain from chewing gum of any type unless you are told otherwise.

4. Take a pain reliever and water to relieve pain. Sometimes water helps to lessen bad taste! You could also put frozen peas in a bag and apply pressure with it onto your teeth as best as you can.