Orthodontic treatment with braces is a journey toward a healthier, straighter smile. While braces do their job, it’s essential to know how to care for them and navigate daily life. Here’s everything you need to keep your treatment on track and your smile shining!
Brushing and Flossing: A Healthy Foundation
Proper oral hygiene is more important than ever when wearing braces. Keeping your teeth and gums clean ensures a healthy smile throughout your orthodontic journey.
- Brushing Tips: Brush thoroughly after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to clean around brackets and wires.
- Flossing Tips: Use a floss threader or orthodontic floss to clean between teeth and underwires.
- Professional Cleanings: If you struggle with plaque buildup, consider scheduling more frequent visits to your dentist. Adults with a history of gum disease should see a periodontist regularly during treatment.
For guidance, check out the videos below on caring for your braces.
Eating with Braces
Adjusting your diet is crucial to protecting your braces. While you’ll soon be able to enjoy many of your favorite foods again, it’s important to avoid anything that could damage your appliances.
Foods to Avoid
- Chewy Foods: Pizza crust, granola bars, dried fruit
Crunchy Foods: Pretzels, chips, raw celery
Sticky Foods: Toffee, taffy, fruit snacks
Hard Foods: Hard pretzels, ice cubes, candy canes
Foods to Bite Into: Corn chips, pears, celery sticks
Avoid chewing on hard objects like pens, pencils, or fingernails, as these habits can damage your braces and extend treatment time.
Managing Discomfort
It’s normal to experience some soreness or irritation when you first get your braces or after adjustments. Here’s what to expect and how to manage it:
- General Soreness: Your teeth may feel tender for 3–5 days. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol can help.
- Irritation: Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may need time to adjust. Use orthodontic wax on braces to minimize discomfort.
- Loosening of Teeth: This is normal! Teeth need to loosen to move into their new positions. They will stabilize once treatment is complete.
Addressing Appliance Issues
Occasionally, wires or brackets may become loose. Here’s what to do if something feels off:
- Loose Wires or Bands: Use a pencil eraser to gently push a poking wire back into place. Apply wax or wet cotton if irritation persists.
Contact our office to schedule an appointment to fix the issue.
Rubber Band Wear
Rubber bands (elastics) are essential for aligning your teeth and jaws. To ensure timely and successful treatment:
- Consistency is Key: Wear your rubber bands as prescribed by your orthodontist.
- Follow Instructions: Missed wear or broken appliances can delay your progress.
Sports and Mouthguards
Are you an athlete? No problem! Protect your teeth and braces during contact sports by wearing a mouthguard. Let us know if you need one, and we’ll provide a custom fit for maximum comfort and protection.
