Oral Hygiene with Braces at Fusion Dental & Braces
Your orthodontic treatment is a team effort between your orthodontist, your dentist, and you. Now that you have your braces, it’s essential to know how to properly care for them. Following these tips will help you maintain excellent oral hygiene throughout your entire orthodontic journey and ensure the best possible results.
Eating with Braces
You will need to take special care to avoid certain foods that could damage your new braces. By protecting your appliances, you help keep your treatment on track.
Foods to Avoid with Braces:
- Chewy & Sticky Foods: Caramels, taffy, bagels, licorice
- Crunchy & Hard Foods: Popcorn, chips, ice, nuts, hard candy, pizza crusts
- Foods That Require Biting Into: Corn on the cob, whole apples, carrots (cut these into small pieces instead)
Also, try to limit sugary and carbonated drinks. These can contribute to plaque buildup and may lead to white spots around your braces. A healthy diet provides essential nutrients to the bones and tissues undergoing change during your treatment.
Foods You CAN Eat with Braces:
- Dairy: Soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
- Breads: Soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
- Grains: Pasta, soft-cooked rice
- Meats/Poultry: Soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
- Seafood: Tuna, salmon, crab cakes
- Vegetables: Mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
- Fruits: Applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
- Treats: Ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
The Importance of Oral Hygiene with Braces
Excellent oral hygiene is critical during orthodontic treatment. Plaque and food can easily accumulate around your braces, which can lead to several problems:
- Permanent White Marks (Decalcification): These spots form on the teeth around the brackets when plaque is not removed.
- Cavities: Increased plaque increases your risk of tooth decay.
- Gum Disease: Can lead to swollen, bleeding gums (gingivitis) or more advanced issues, such as periodontitis, in which the gums pull away from the teeth.
Your role as a partner in your treatment is crucial. Keep up with your appointments, follow all care instructions, and continue to see your primary dentist for cleanings every 3-6 months.
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
When to Brush and Floss?
You should brush after every meal and snack. If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Floss at least once a day, making sure your teeth are perfectly clean before you go to bed.
How to Brush:
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush (or electric toothbrush) and fluoride toothpaste.
- Start by brushing with just water so you can see your braces and ensure no food is trapped. Look for clean, shiny brackets where all the edges are visible.
- Add toothpaste and brush around every part of your braces and on every surface of your teeth. Use small, circular motions for at least two minutes.
- Don’t forget to brush your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and your gums.
- Rinse thoroughly with water or a mouth rinse.
- After brushing, inspect your teeth and braces for any loose or broken brackets.
- Remember to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months, or sooner if it looks worn.
How to Floss:
Use a floss threader, pre-threaded floss, or a small interproximal brush to get the floss under the archwire. Slide the dental floss up and down the sides of each tooth to remove plaque from between them.
Hygiene Helpers:
Ask our team about these tools that can make cleaning easier:
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- Interproximal Brush: Slips under your archwire to clean around brackets and remove plaque.
- Fluoride Rinse: Provides extra cavity protection.
- Electric Toothbrush: Many models have features that help ensure you brush for a full two minutes.
- Waterpik: This tool can be highly beneficial for braces by effectively cleaning around brackets and wires, removing food particles, and reducing plaque buildup where traditional brushing might miss.
Soreness and Common Issues
Soreness Caused by Braces:
It’s normal for your teeth and mouth to feel tender when you first get your braces. To relieve discomfort, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water, then rinse for a few minutes (do not swallow). You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. Your lips and cheeks will toughen up after a week or two. We can provide you with soft wax to place over the braces to lessen any irritation.
Loose Teeth:
Your teeth may feel a little loose during treatment. This is a regular part of the process, as they must loosen slightly to move into their new, correct positions.
Loose Wires and Bands:
If a wire or band on your braces comes loose, please contact us as soon as possible so we can repair your appliance. If a piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to your appointment. You can temporarily push a loose wire back into place with the eraser end of a pencil. If it is irritating your mouth, cover the end with wax or a wet cotton ball.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances can extend your treatment time. To ensure your teeth and jaw move into their correct positions efficiently, it’s vital to consistently wear any rubber bands, headgear, retainers, or other appliances as prescribed by our orthodontist.
Playing Sports with Braces
You can absolutely still play sports during your orthodontic treatment! We highly recommend wearing a protective mouthguard to shield your teeth and braces from injury. Ask us for recommendations on the right mouthguard for your needs.
If you experience a sports-related injury to your mouth, check for any damage to your teeth and appliances. Contact our office immediately if you notice loose teeth or broken appliance parts. You can rinse with warm saltwater to relieve any immediate discomfort.