Caring for your braces
Getting braces is an important chapter in your life, and we want to make sure it goes as seamlessly as possible. Use our top tips below to ensure your treatment goes smoothly.
Do's of brace care
- Try to take small mouthfuls when eating. If you put too much food in your mouth at one time, you could run the risk of damaging your braces.
- Brush after EVERY meal, including snacks. This is very important as otherwise plaque can build up and cause cavities.
- Use disclosing tablets. These can help you identify which parts of your teeth need some extra brushing.
- Floss. This may seem odd as surely you can't floss with braces on your teeth? The answer is you can, and we'll show you how.
- Attend all of your appointments with both your dentist and your orthodontist during your treatment time. This is important for the success of your treatment.
- Check to make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.
- Use an electric toothbrush as these are more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth.
- Limit the amount of food and drink that could stain your teeth, such as tea and coffee, red wine and curries.
- Quit smoking.
- Look out for signs of gum disease (gingivitis). These include swollen and painful gums, bleeding after brushing and loose teeth.
Don’ts of brace care
- Don't eat hard or sticky food as this can break your braces.
- Don't bite your nails. This habit can cause your braces to break, which could lengthen your treatment time. Avoid chewing on the ends of pens and pencils too.
- Don't try to fix your braces by yourself if they have broken. Book an emergency appointment ASAP and use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges until your orthodontist can see you.
- Don't play with your braces. Once you get used to wearing them, which should only take a few days, leave them to do their job. This will help ensure your treatment stays on track.
- Don’t play sport, particularly contact sport, without wearing a mouthguard to protect your braces.
Eating with braces
While wearing braces you can still enjoy most of your favourite foods. You just have to make a few small changes to your diet.
You should try to stay away from:
- Hard, sticky sweets like toffee
- Hard breads and crusts, like bagels or pizza crusts (you can cut these into bite sized pieces)
- Corn on the cob. Cut the kernels off first.
- Sugary drinks
- Popcorn
Learn how to care for
your braces properly
If you still have questions about proper brace care, our team is happy to help. Give us a call or ask us in person during your next appointment.
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