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(941) 231-4795
6286 Lake Osprey Drive
Lakewood Ranch, Fl 34240
(941) 260-1393
2916 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34239
(941) 231-4795
6286 Lake Osprey Drive
Lakewood Ranch, Fl 34240
(941) 260-1393
2916 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34239

Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. 

Eating with Braces

Braces have brackets, bands, and wires that are all prone to damage from certain foods and eating habits. You’ll need to take special care to avoid foods that could damage your new appliances. 

Foods to avoid...

  • Chewy or sticky foods... bagels, beef jerky, caramels, gummy candies
  • Crunchy or hard foods... popcorn, ice, most kinds of nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into... apples, corn on the cob, hard sandwiches

Foods TO ENJOY...

  • Dairy… yogurt, soft cheeses, pudding, ice cream
  • Grains… pasta, rice, pancakes, soft breads, lentils
  • Meat/poultry… chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood… tuna, salmon, crab
  • Veggies… avocado, mashed potatoes, beans
  • Fruits… bananas, berries, applesauce, mangoes
  • Treats… soft cakes and cookies, sugar-free gum, milkshakes

Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances

It is very normal to feel general soreness when you first get your braces on and when the orthodontist makes adjustments. Your mouth and teeth may be tender for a few days as they adjust to the pressure of the attachments. We recommend taking pain relievers like Advil as needed, eating a diet of soft foods until your teeth no longer hurt, and/or icing your gums for up to 15 minutes. 

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Loose Brackets and Bands

A bracket is any of the pieces that are glued to the front of your tooth and bands are the metal rings that fit around your back molars. Occasionally, a bracket or band may become loose. If it is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and cover it with wax if needed to lessen discomfort. If it has fallen out or can be removed, keep it in an envelope to bring with you to the office at your next appointment. Usually, a loose bracket won’t necessitate immediate repair and can wait until your next appointment. But if you are experiencing severe pain give us a call to address the issue. 

Take Care of Your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor. 

Playing Sports

If you play a sport with a high degree of contact, it’s a good idea to wear a mouthguard. This will protect your mouth from injury and/or your orthodontic appliances from damage if you get hit by another player or a ball. 

Brushing and Flossing

Most orthodontists do recommend brushing your teeth after every meal (at least three times a day) in order to prevent the buildup of food and plaque in the mouth. It is important that, whatever your situation, you make sure to brush your teeth in the morning and at night before going to bed, as well as flossing daily to get in between the braces and teeth where your brush cannot reach. Your orthodontist can show you how to brush and floss effectively once your braces are in place. 

BRUSHING WITH BRACES

After every meal, brush your teeth for two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste containing fluoride. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth in small, circular motions while positioning the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline. Pay close attention to the areas around brackets and appliances for food particles that may be stuck. 

FLOSSING WITH BRACES

To floss with braces, you can use a floss threader to get behind each wire and between brackets. Begin by attaching the floss to the threader and pulling the floss between the space between your tooth and the braces wire. Then, wrapping the ends of the floss around each pointer finger, gently slide the floss between teeth in a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you have flossed all your teeth. If you feel that you’re having trouble removing all the food particles between your teeth, you may want to invest in a water flosser. 

Becky

Orthodontic Assistant

ln 1993 Becky entered the Orthodontic field in Massachusetts, where she was born and raised. Visiting Florida as a child, she always knew she would become a permanent resident someday. The favorite part of her job is to help create beautiful smiles and watch patients evolve throughout treatment and gain confidence. She is married to her husband Chris and have a wonderful daughter Miranda and a kitty named Sox. Her family enjoys going to Disney and cheering on the Red Sox, Patriots and the Bruins.

Sally

Orthodontic Assistant

ln 2001 she chose the Orthodontic field and has never looked back. She strives to keep patients comfortable, informed and uplifted while in her chair during treatment time. She loves what she is doing and looks forward to many more years of creating smiles that last a lifetime.

Abbie

Orthodontic Assistant

Abbie is 24 years old, born and raised in Manatee County, and recently engaged. She became an Orthodontic Assistant in 2019. ln her free time, she enjoys singing a cappella music with friends and competing in music competitions around the U.S. She loves being part of the Varone Team and looks forward to many more amazing times to come.

Ally

Orthodontic Assistant

Ally became an Orthodontic Assistant in 2020. She loves this field of work because she helps people feeI more confident about their smiles. She enjoys listening to music and attending concerts. On her days off she usually hangs out with friends and family.

Carrie

Orthodontic Assistant

Carrie grew up in mid-Michigan and moved to Sarasota, and was very glad to get out of the cold weather. She has been an assistant for 37 years, which 14 of those have been with Dr. Varone. Our doctor, staff and patients are the highlight of her career. Carrie is married and has 2 children.

Rosemary

Insurance Coordinator

Rosemary verifies insurance for our patients and then follows up on claims after they are submitted to the insurance company. This is very time consuming with changes being made all the time. When she is not in the office she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She leads a very active life that includes travel, pickleball and regular workouts at the gym. She also teaches yoga and has recently started ballroom dancing lessons. She has been with us since January 2019.

Rosa

Reception/Insurance

Rosa was originally from North Jersey and has been in the field since 2006 as a patient coordinator, reception and insurance processor. She loves working with patients and their smiles, white fostering strong relationships with an empathetic approach to scheduling and financial discussions with those patients. She has a passion for creating a welcoming environment, ensuring all patients feet like they are treated as family. She is always building trust and showing that Varone Orthodontics is reliable and caring. Rosa has been with us since December 2021 . ln her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach for long walks and spending lots of time with family.

Diane

Front Desk Administrator

Diane has worked in the orthodontic field since 2006. Her favorite thing about orthodontics is seeing the beautiful change in the patients from start to finish. She loves to help patients and co-workers whenever possible. Diane is a native of Bowling Green coming to Lakewood Ranch area in 1984. When she is not at the office she enjoys spending time with her fiance, Tom, and her granddaughters Skylynn and Sarah.

Sally

Treatment Care Coordinator

Originally from the United Kingdom, Sally has worked in orthodontics since 2003 and has her certification in Orthodontic assisting. Sally loves working in orthodontics because it’s fun, we work hard, but we are always smiling and laughing. Sally also enjoys spending time with her husband, Ed, her dogs and 2 daughters. Her favorite things to do are traveling, watching Liverpool FC and reading a good book while relaxing by the pool or at the beach.

DONNA

Office Manager and Financial Administrator

Donna moved to Florida in 2003. She grew up and raised her family in Jamestown, NY. Donna Joined Dr. Varone when the practice opened in 2005 as the office coordinator and she has enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful smiles walk out the door since then. She loves spending time with family and friends and going to her grandson’s baseball games. Donna resides in Lakewood Ranch with her husband. They have three grown children, two grandsons and a Bernie doodle, Roxie.