How to care for your braces

Braces Care

Looking after your braces doesn’t just ensure they are kept clean and intact it also helps keep your treatment on track to achieve the best results. Follow our handy tips to be sure that your treatment goes smoothly and you’re left with a brilliant smile.

When does braces care begin?

Braces care begins right after application. After the initial placement of your brackets and wires, you can expect some pain and soreness for a few days. The team recommends over-the-counter pain medication to ease these symptoms.

For sensitive gums, we provide wax that you place over the brackets and wires to limit irritation. You can expect regular visits with your orthodontist at MyOrthodontist for adjustments and checkups. The frequency of your visits depends on your oral health needs. Like your initial visit, mouth pain and soreness are common after your braces care follow-up visits.

What should I know about at-home braces care?

Brushing your teeth is even more important when wearing braces as your braces themselves can trap food in them. It is important to remove any bacteria after eating and before and after bed to ensure plaque doesn’t build up on your teeth and cause decay.

Fixed braces, whether fixed to the front of your teeth or the back, can make cleaning your teeth more difficult. When your braces have been fitted, you will be offered to purchase a care pack from reception containing special toothbrushes, disclosing tablets, fluoride mouthwash, special floss, and other specific tools to make keeping your teeth and braces clean easier.

The MyOrthodontist team provides guidance on how to take care of your teeth and your braces at home in between your visits. This includes how to clean your teeth with braces and what to eat. 

Oral hygiene, and braces, and clear aligners.

Your brackets and wires may trap food, increasing your risk of stains and cavities. The team recommends brushing your teeth after every meal and snack and carefully removing any food caught in your braces. Since you can take clear aligners out to eat, the process with clear aligners is somewhat simpler, just brush your teeth and aligners after each meal and pop your aligners back in! Flossing is still VERY important, even with clear aligners! 

When brushing, use a regular soft toothbrush followed by the Proxabrush, which is a special toothbrush that cleans in between your braces. Additionally, a water flosser, such as a WaterPik is very helpful in removing debris. Mouthwash may also help clear unwanted particles.

Eating with braces

Having braces is not a complete change in lifestyle, but certain foods will need to be avoided in order to protect your braces and your teeth during your treatment. These guides are designed for fixed braces but are good advice for those that use clear aligner treatment also.

Things to do:

• Eat a healthy, varied diet
• Cut up food into smaller pieces to enable your teeth to chew more easily
• Get your five fruits and veg a day with the help of smoothies and soups
• Drink plenty of water
• Brush your teeth after every meal and snack

Foods to avoid with braces:

• Hard, chewy, or sticky sweets like toffee as these can damage your braces
• Biting into hard foods such as apples or carrots. Grate them instead!
• Consuming excessive amounts of sugary drinks
• Eating popcorn (as it can get stuck in your braces)
• Chewing gum, biting your nails or nibbling on the end of pencils. 

If you accidentally break a wire or bracket, MyOrthodontist offers advice for treating discomfort or emergency orthodontic care to repair your braces.

For comprehensive braces care from an experienced team, call MyOrthodontist or request an appointment online today.