Care and Use of You and Your Braces

Hygiene:

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only look good but they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to our overall wellbeing.

Daily preventive care including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop and will keep your smile looking beautiful while preventing bad breath. People undergoing orthodontic treatment need to be even more dedicated to good oral hygiene.

Here are some points that may help:

  • Brush at least two to 3 times a day
    It is best to brush after each meal to make sure there is no food trapped round your teeth or braces
  • Use a soft bristle brush to help you get into all the nooks and crannies. They are also gentle on your gums
  • Brush for at least two to three minutes each time.

The best way to brush is slowly and carefully. If you have braces it is important to brush the surface of the teeth as well as the braces paying special attention to the area between your brackets and gums. A watch or timer is useful to make sure you are brushing for long enough.

Diet:

Diet can play a major role in the health of the oral cavity. Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates are the worst for teeth when it comes the development of decay. Bacteria in the mouth metabolise these sugars and during this process produce acid. The pH of the mouth therefore drops and causes demineralisation of the enamel surfaces of the teeth. Over time, enough of this demineralisation can cause a cavity to form. Foods low in sugars or that contain no sugars at all do not cause this acid production and pH levels stay in a healthy range.

While wearing braces you need to think twice about eating foods that could increase your risk of cavities. You should also avoid anything that may damage or break your brackets or wires.

What foods should I avoid?

  • Stay away from hard and sticky foods especially if they are sweet!
  • Cut down on all sugary foods including sweet drinks.
  • Avoid hard cheeses and crusty breads
  • Particularly hard vegetables or fruit can damage your braces but they are important for your diet. Instead eat them cooked or in much smaller bite sizes
  • Do no chew ice
  • Meat on bones
  • Whole apples
  • Raw carrots
  • Corn on the cob
  • Do not open your water bottle with your teeth!

What are good foods to eat?

Braces, new retainers and other appliances are liable to cause teeth to be tender for a day or two.

A balanced diet is always important for healthy teeth and gums and general wellbeing but while your teeth are tender eating soft foods or cutting food into smaller mouthfuls will help.

  • Plenty of soft or small pieces of fruit and vegetables
  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Milk
  • Soups
  • Pasta's
  • Meat well cut up
  • Rice and lentils

Caring for Retainers

Every time you brush your teeth, brush your retainer as well. Once a day or at least once a week, disinfect your retainer by soaking it in a denture cleanser recommended by your Orthodontist. Thoroughly rinse the retainer with plain water before placing it back in your mouth.

Playing Sports While Wearing Braces

You can continue to participate in any sport you choose when you have braces. When playing sports where there is a possibility of getting hit in the mouth, a specially designed mouthguard will need to be worn. The mouthguard, made of durable plastic, is designed to fit comfortably over your braces and will protect the soft tissues inside your mouth.

What to do If a Bracket or Wire Breaks

Broken braces, loose bands, or protruding wires can cause problems but rarely require emergency treatment. However, do call your orthodontist to set up an office visit to fix the problem.

Here's some tips to get you through some of the more common problems until you are able to see your orthodontist:

Loose brackets. Apply a small piece of orthodontic wax to temporarily reattach loose brackets or place wax over the bracket to provide a cushion between the bracket and your gums and other soft tissues of your mouth. Your orthodontist will provide orthodontic wax to you when you first get your braces.

Loose bands. These will need to be replaced or recemented into place. Save the band and schedule an appointment for the repair.

Protruding or broken wire. Use an eraser end of a pencil to move the wire to a less bothersome position. If you can't move it out of the way, apply a small amount of orthodontic wax over the protruding end. Do not attempt to cut the wire because you might accidentally swallow it or inhale it into your lungs. If a mouth sore develops from the wire poking the inside of your mouth, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or an antiseptic rinse. An over-the-counter dental anesthetic can also be applied to numb the area.

Loose spacers. These will need to be repositioned or replaced if they slip or fall out completely.

Will braces cause ulcers in my mouth?

When you first get braces, you could experience some ulcers in your mouth due to irritation. If you rinse with warm salty water several times a day, they will usually heal within a week. We provide orthodontic wax to our patients when they get braces as this helps protect the inside of your lips and cheeks from rubbing against the brackets, which in turn helps prevent ulcers forming. Your soft tissues will become accustomed to the braces and after a while you shouldn't need to use wax anymore. If you suffer from ulcers prior to getting braces we can recommend treatments to combat them especially whilst having orthodontic treatment.