Braces Home Care

When you have braces you will need to care for them at home in between visits with your orthodontist. It’s important to call us should you need repairs when unexpected issues happen like loose or bent wires. There are temporary fixes for certain scenarios but you still need to first and foremost call and make an appointment with us so that we can correctly fix the problem as soon as possible. Be detailed when you call and explain what has happened. If you simply need more bands you can call to request some be mailed to you or you can stop by one of our offices during normal operating hours to pick up some more.

You should be prepared to experience some soreness once your braces are in place but this will only last a few days. You can use over the counter pain reliever to help alleviate the pain as needed. You might also experience slight tongue or cheek irritation, however should you feel a wire or something else poking your mouth anywhere give us a call immediately to schedule an appointment so that we can fix the problem.

Proper Oral Care At Home

Caring for braces at home is a bit more challenging to keep your teeth clean but it doesn’t mean you should stop brushing completely. Small food particles can easily become stuck in the brackets and in between your teeth and will require flossing and brushing for complete removal. While we recommend brushing after every meal, this is even more important when you have braces. Using a soft toothbrush apply firm pressure while brushing at a 45-degree angle in small circles. Remember to do this below and above your brackets as well. You should also expect to go through more toothbrushes than before you had braces so watch for fraying on your brush and replace it as needed. Other additional tools that will help with your oral care routine include waterpiks and floss threaders.

Elastics For Braces

When you have braces you will also have elastics in place to apply pressure to the teeth so they move into the desired position. You will need to have elastics in at all times so you will be changing them every day. If you find yourself forgetting to wear them, you will be reminded at your next visit when your progress has halted due to the lack of proper pressure on the teeth.

Wear your elastics as instructed by your orthodontist and take them out only when you need to brush your teeth. Promptly put them back in once you finish brushing and flossing. It helps to have some on hand (in your purse, pocket, etc.) so that during the day should one break you have a replacement accessible. If you’re running low just let us know and we’ll make sure you receive more.

Elastics are not something you need to ‘make-up’ for when missing a day of wearing them. Carry on with your normal wear routine, just don’t forget them again! Elastics will wear and lose elasticity which affects the needed pressure on your teeth so it’s important to change them as directed even when they are still holding elasticity and aren’t broken. If you’re having trouble with your elastics and they continue breaking, you suspect a wire is loose or one of the hooks have broken off you need to contact us immediately! This is an emergency that needs to be addressed right away and cannot wait until your normal scheduled appointment in the future.

Your Diet and Braces

This is possibly one of the most dreaded aspects of braces for those who have ever had to wear them. You will be instructed on what foods should be avoided and it’s very crucial that you follow it. You will need to omit hard foods and of course, popcorn. Hard foods can damage and break your wires and brackets. Other habits to avoid include biting your nails and chewing on pens, pencils, etc. These also can cause damage. In addition to hard foods, you will have to stay away from sticky foods; gum, sticky candy, caramel, taffy, etc. You still get to enjoy a wide variety of tasty foods and treats so don’t be discouraged just because of the foods you cannot eat.