Hygiene Guide
How to Take Care of Your Braces
Orthodontic Hygiene Guide
Braces are great at doing what they’re designed to do: straighten teeth. But they don’t care for themselves. Braces require diligent attention and maintenance to ensure they are working most effectively and to uphold your oral hygiene.
Whether you’re a new or prospective patient feeling a bit apprehensive, or currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, understanding how to take care of your braces will help ease anxiety and keep your teeth clean and healthy throughout the process.
The team at Arcadia Orthodontics will make sure you feel 100% prepared for caring for your braces at home, from daily cleanings, to what you can and can’t eat with braces, and tips for care when the braces come off.
Taking Care of Your Braces at Home
Taking proper care of your braces at home is a critical factor in the ultimate success of your treatment. The primary focus should be keeping your braces and teeth clean through effective brushing and flossing.
Brushing with Braces
Brushing your teeth with braces requires a bit more effort than brushing teeth without braces. Food particles and plaque can get easily trapped in brackets and wires, leading to cavities and gum disease if not removed.
For best results, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or an electric toothbrush and angle the brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line and brackets. Brush in a small, circular motion to clean around each bracket and under the wires. While you’re wearing braces, you should brush after every meal to prevent food from sitting on your teeth for extended periods of time.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing with braces can be challenging, but it’s a must for removing food particles and plaque between the teeth and along the gum line.
To make flossing with braces easier, use a floss threader, a small, plastic tool that helps you guide dental floss under the wires of your braces. Orthodontic floss is also effective because it’s designed specifically for use with braces. Water flossers are good for cleaning between teeth and around brackets, especially if traditional flossing methods are too challenging.
Other Tips for Taking Care of Braces at Home
In addition to brushing and flossing, antimicrobial mouthwash reduces the risk of gum disease and keeps breath fresh.
Regularly checking your braces for any loose wires or brackets throughout your treatment is important. If you notice any issues, contact your orthodontist as soon as possible to avoid discomfort and any setbacks in your treatment plan.
What You Can & Can't Eat With Braces
The diet you maintain while wearing braces plays a significant role in the condition of your braces, the effectiveness of your treatment, and overall oral hygiene. Certain foods can damage braces by breaking wires or brackets, extending the time and cost of your treatment.
What can you eat with braces?
There are plenty of foods you can safely enjoy while wearing braces. Soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and cooked vegetables are all good choices.
Soft fruits like bananas or berries are healthy snack options, and harder fruits can be cut down into manageable pieces. Pasta, rice, and lean meats are also safe.
What can’t you eat with braces?
Hard, sticky, and chewy foods should be avoided while wearing braces. The worst offenders include hard candies, nuts, popcorn, and sticky candies like caramel or gum. These foods can get easily stuck in braces and cause brackets and wires to break.
Avoid biting directly into hard foods like apples or raw carrots. These foods can be safely enjoyed while wearing braces by cutting them into smaller pieces before eating.
Dental Braces Care
Maintaining Oral Hygiene with Regular Dental Visits
While daily at-home care is crucial, maintaining regular dental visits throughout your treatment is equally important. Even the best brushing and flossing routine can miss plaque and tartar building up in hard-to-reach areas.
It’s important to continue routine dental checkups every six months while wearing braces. During these visits, our care team will thoroughly clean your teeth, removing any plaque and tartar that may have accumulated. This prevents cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues that could interfere with your orthodontic treatment.
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene while wearing braces requires consistent effort. Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your tooth enamel and reduce the risk of cavities, and ask our team about fluoride treatments or using a fluoride rinse for extra protection.
Wearing Your Retainer After Treatment
Once your braces are removed, you will likely be given a retainer to wear to maintain your newly straightened smile and ensure teeth don’t move. Adhering to the instructions given by our care team will make sure you get the most out of your investment.
A retainer holds your teeth in their new position while your gums, bones, and muscles adjust. Without a retainer, your teeth may shift back to their original position over time, undoing all the hard work of your orthodontic treatment.
Caring for your retainer is just as important as caring for your braces. Clean your retainer regularly with a toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste and follow any specific instructions given by your orthodontist. Always store your retainer in its case when not in use to prevent loss or damage.
Taking Care of Your Braces with Arcadia Orthodontics
Taking care of your braces is a commitment, but never fear; the expert orthodontic professionals at Arcadia Orthodontics will make sure you feel prepared for the task. We will equip you with the right knowledge to maintain excellent oral health throughout your orthodontic treatment.
By following the best practices outlined in this article and staying in close contact with our care team, you can ensure that your braces work effectively and that you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile to last a lifetime.
Ready to get started with your orthodontic journey? Contact us today to schedule a consultation.