Providing Care for Families in Clermont, Groveland, Minneola and surrounding communities.

(352) 227-3258

Congratulations! You have begun your journey to achieving a healthy bite and beautiful, confident smile. I’m sure you have some questions regarding braces and orthodontic treatment. If your questions or concerns are not answered below, please discuss them with Dr. Adams by calling his personal cell number at 407-319-2746 or at your next appointment.

Will I experience soreness with braces?

  • When you first get braces, you will experience soreness. That’s soreness is your body getting used to the new sensation of teeth moving through bone. That soreness goes away completely within a week or two after treatment.
  • The number one thing to do to help minimize soreness and help it go away even faster is proper brushing and flossing. Proper brushing and flossing will be demonstrated for you at your appointment when braces are placed. Promoting and maintaining clean and healthy teeth and gum tissues is essential to eliminating soreness.
  • If you need temporary relief from the soreness, Dr. Adams recommends taking Advil or Tylenol®.
  • Your inner lips and cheeks may also feel some soreness or irritation due to the new sensation of the brackets rubbing up against them. Brush the inside of your lips and cheeks to help toughen them up and this will help them get used to the brackets much quicker.

What foods should I not eat with braces?

  • You should avoid foods that can cause damage to the brackets and wires. Loose brackets and bent or broken wires will impede the progress of treatment and may actually cause treatment to go longer. Therefore, it is important to check daily for loose brackets and bent or broken wires and contact the office to schedule an appointment ASAP to fix any issues. Please avoid the following foods:
  • Hard foods - hard candy, nuts, raw carrots, ice, etc.
  • Chewy foods - bagels, gummy bears, etc.
  • Sticky foods – gum, caramel, etc.
  • Miscellaneous - corn on the cob, whole apple, ribs on bone
  • Popcorn – stuck popcorn hulls in braces can cause an infection

Will my teeth be loose?

  • As teeth move through bone, they will feel a little loose. That is perfectly normal. Once your teeth get to their desired positions and are held in place for a period of time, the looseness will go away as the bone firms up around their new positions.

Do I need a mouthguard for sports?

  • If you play sports, especially contact sports, Dr. Adams recommends that you wear a mouthguard. Please let us know that you need one and you can choose from an assortment of colors.
  • If you experience an injury to your mouth while playing sports and there is damage to your appliances and/or if you notice any loose teeth, please contact the office immediately. If it is after hours, contact Dr. Adams at 407-319-2746 and he will meet you at the office right away.