When you receive braces, you will need to make a few changes to your lifestyle in order to get the best results from your treatment, and keep your braces intact and functioning correctly.
Taking good care of your teeth is also especially important. Dr. DeGeorge and her team will provide you with instructions on the best ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment.
To keep your smile healthy while you have braces, our orthodontist and team encourage you to follow these guidelines:
Brush your teeth at least three times every day. Brush after every meal and if you eat a sugary snack in between.
Use an interproximal brush to help clean around the brackets and wires in places your toothbrush might have a hard time reaching.
Floss at least once every day. Using a floss threader can make it easier to reach behind the wire of your braces.
Rinse with water every time you clean your teeth.
Pay attention to the list of foods to avoid with braces.
EATING WITH BRACES
Below are some foods that you should avoid while wearing braces in order to prevent them from being damaged:
Chewy foods, such as bagels and licorice
Crunchy foods, such as popcorn, ice, and chips
Sticky foods, such as caramel and chewing gum
Hard foods, such as nuts and hard candies
Foods that require biting into, such as corn on the cob, raw carrots, and uncut apples
SORE TEETH
Your teeth may feel tender or sore when you begin wearing braces. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers. A warm wash cloth, heating pad or warm salt water rinses can reduce the soreness in your jaws.
WIRE IRRITATION
Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
LOOSE BRACKET
Always call our office first to see if we need to replace the bracket. If you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office on the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.
LOST SEPARATOR
Call our office to see if it needs to be replaced. Some patients may lose a separator during treatment, which is common.
If you have any other questions about life with braces, please feel free to contact our office!