Life with braces

Living with braces

Looking after your teeth is even more important when you’re wearing braces. There are a few things you’ll need to do a little differently to keep your mouth clean. We’ll also describe some of the foods and drinks you should try to avoid, to keep your teeth and braces in good condition.

 

Tips for brushing and flossing

The best way to ensure a clean and healthy smile is brushing and flossing. Food particles can accumulate on teeth and in your braces. Over time, this can turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and even loss of teeth. To avoid these problems while you are in orthodontic treatment, take special care of your braces, teeth and gums to ensure you will have the best possible result.

Brushing and Flossing

Brushing

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.

Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your teeth and braces. You should brush:

  • In the morning after breakfast
  • After lunch or right after school (or work)
  • After supper
  • At bedtime

You’ll need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing.

Brushing

Flossing

For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day.

Use the reusable floss threader provided by your orthodontist to floss under your archwire daily. Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser through the threader and slide it up and down along the front of each tooth. You will be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against your clean teeth. Use care around your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth and gums.

If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.

Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let us know when you come in for your next appointment.

Flossing

What to avoid with your braces

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar should be avoided. This is because hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. You should minimise sugary foods as this can cause tooth decay and related problems.

Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should also be avoided.

Life with braces

Here are some examples of sticky & hard foods to avoid:

  • Gum (sugar-free or regular)
  • Liquorice
  • Sugar Daddies
  • Toffee
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Caramels
  • Starburst
  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Hard taco shells
  • French bread crust/rolls
  • Corn on the cob
  • Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
  • Bagels
  • Chips
  • Jolly Ranchers
  • Pizza crust
  • Raw carrots (unless cut)

Life of braces

Minimise sugary foods Like

  • Cake
  • Ice cream
  • Cookies
  • Pie
  • Candy

Life with braces

Only once a day

  • Soda
  • Sweetened tea
  • Gatorade
  • Kool-Aid
  • Drinks with sugar

Life with braces