How to Care for Braces

Caring for your braces will protect them from damage and help keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. Follow these tips:

Remove Elastics Before Eating & Brushing

Small rubber bands are sometimes used in different configurations on braces to change a patient’s bite. These elastics are strong enough to correct overbites and underbites, but they should not be left in while a patient is eating or brushing their teeth, as they can easily break. Once the patient is done eating and cleaning their teeth, they should place their rubber bands back where they need to be as soon as possible.

Brush Your Teeth & Braces

The brackets and wires of braces will make it more difficult to thoroughly clean your teeth. It’s crucial that patients be meticulous and careful about cleaning their teeth and braces to reduce their risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, or other issues. Additionally, ceramic braces can become stained if they are not cleaned properly, which will make them appear more noticeable and less discreet to others.

Floss Daily

Flossing with braces can take a little longer than it would otherwise, but it is an important and necessary part of a patient’s oral care routine. String flossing removes plaque and food debris from areas that are difficult or impossible to clean with a toothbrush. Floss can be threaded behind the wires with a floss threader, or patients can invest in a water flosser, which shoots pressurized water around the brackets, between the teeth, and under the gums.

Avoid Sticky & Chewy Foods

If a certain kind of food frequently sticks to your teeth, chances are it will get stuck in braces and be really difficult to remove. Tough or very crunchy foods should also be avoided, as they can end up damaging brackets and wires. Not sure if a food is braces-friendly? Please ask our team about it so you can avoid damaging your braces, which can lead to discomfort and more frequent trips to our office.

Should you have any questions or concerns for our team throughout your treatment or your child’s treatment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team. We would be delighted to hear from you!

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Categorised in: Braces, Dental Tips, Healthy Teeth, Orthodontics, Preventive Dental Care