5 Tips to Care for Your Brace

Fixed braces work by attaching small brackets to each tooth and then running a wire between them. Tension can be placed on each length of wire to adjust the pressure on your teeth. Over time, this continuous pressure will move your teeth into the correct alignment.

To make sure the treatment is successful, you not only need to take care of your teeth, but you also need to take care of your braces. With more and more people now opting for teeth straightening, we look at how you can ensure you keep your braces in tip-top condition.

1. Never Skip Brushing

With braces, it is crucial that you brush your teeth and brace after every meal because food particles can easily become trapped inside your braces, leading to plaque and tooth decay. Not to mention, that trapped food can also look bad and start to smell horrible after a while. 

Be sure to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with you everywhere you go so that you’re always ready to brush. Remember that you can’t rely on chewing gum to freshen your breath like you may have in the past. If you forget your toothbrush, try swishing water around your mouth, as this may help to dislodge some of the food.

You should also make sure you brush your teeth in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed. You might be given a special brush to help clean your braces and make sure there is no food trapped in them overnight.

2. Floss teeth at least twice a day

Flossing can help to clean the areas between teeth and other places that brushing misses. This helps to ensure that you do not experience gum disease and decay.

Flossing with braces can be more difficult, so you might want to try a water flosser, or you could switch to interdental brushes. These will make it easier to clean between your teeth and around your braces. 

3. Watch what you eat and drink

When you’re wearing braces, you need to avoid certain foods that could get stuck in your braces or damage the brackets and wires. Some foods may be completely off limits for the duration of your treatment, including: 

Drinks can also be problematic, particularly fizzy drinks and fruit juice. These are often high in sugar and can be acidic. If you do not clean your teeth properly this can lead to tooth decay and erosion whether you have fixed or removable braces. The risk is higher when you are wearing braces, as the apparatus will retain more of the sugars. 

If you do drink these types of drinks, don’t sip the drink, use a straw instead. This will help to limit your exposure to the drink and bypass your teeth. It’s not ideal, but it can be better than gulping it from a cup.

4. Get any damage repaired quickly

If your brace becomes damaged it is important that you book a review appointment as soon as possible. This will ensure that the dentist can assess and repair any damage, ensuring that the teeth straightening treatment continues as planned.

A damaged bracket of wire can quickly become very uncomfortable, and it could cut your mouth or tongue if left untreated. If you cannot get to the dentist any time soon, it’s a good idea to keep some orthodontic wax in your home so that you can cover any uncomfortable parts and ensure you don’t get cuts in your mouth.

5. Don’t skip appointments

If you consistently miss appointments, it will extend the time you need to wear your braces and can hinder your ability to achieve a gorgeous and perfectly straight smile. If you need to rearrange an appointment it is not a problem, but be sure to reschedule it for an upcoming day not several weeks from the original appointment.

If regular appointment times are a problem for you, it could be worth exploring clear and removable aligner options such as Invisalign. This will allow you to change your aligners at home, rather than visiting the dentist for every adjustment. Visit frequency is usually around every 6 – 8 weeks, and visits will also be much shorter.

Get started with your orthodontic journey

We have a wide range of orthodontic treatment options available to suit all patients. The first step is to arrange a consultation to learn more about braces and find out which option would be best for your needs. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our payment plans to help you spread the cost of orthodontic treatment.

Here at Leigh Dental Centre, we are able to offer Invisalign, Invisible Braces and CFast Braces. So, what are you waiting for? Call Leigh Dental Centre today on 01702 472929 and book a consultation to find out if teeth straightening could be the right solution for you.