BRACES GUIDE

HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS

We are passionate about clean teeth! We want your teeth to be beautiful when the braces come off. 

Keeping a Healthy Smile.  Braces create small ledges, nooks and crannies for food deposits which can lead to white spots, cavities, and gum problems. This makes brushing and flossing more important when you are wearing braces.  When you brush and floss, handle your appliances carefully so you won't break or loosen them.  Following these cleaning tips will keep your smile healthy.

Brushing. Be sure to brush your teeth right after every meal and especially before bedtime.  It's best to use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to help fight cavities.  Start by brushing the outside of of each tooth especially where your gums and teeth meet using a circular motion.  Also, brush the inside and chewing surfaces of each tooth. You should brush at least three times a day.  Rinse daily with a fluoride mouth wash.

Flossing. Because your toothbrush won't reach between your teeth, brushing alone won't keep your teeth clean and healthy.  Flossing once a day is also necessary.  A floss threader helps you floss with braces on.  Thread floss through the threader and slip it up behind your archwire.  Pull the dloss between two teeth and up under your gum margins.  

Rinsing. Rinse about twice a day with fluoride mouth wash and watch your teeth and braces sparkle.

EATING WITH BRACES

Don't worry, you'll be enjoying our favorite foods again in no time!  In the meantime, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your braces.

Foods to avoid: 

Sticky foods: caramel candies, licorice, chewing gum

Hard foods: nuts, hard candies, bagels, pretzels, chips, ice

Foods that require biting into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

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: apple sauce, bananas, fruit juice

Treats: ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cupcakes

DEALING WITH DISCOMFORT

When you first get your braces, your teeth and mouth may feel a little tender or sore.  Here are some helpful tips...

Soreness caused from braces and appliances.  Some discomfort is perfectly normal.  We promise your mouth will not be sore forever.  To relieve the discomfort, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon salt in a glass of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just about 30 seconds.

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try a pain reliever.  Please follow the use instructions carefully.  It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for about a week as they become used to the braces.  We would be happy to give you wax that you can put over the braces to relieve the tenderness.  If you need more wax, please let us know.

Loosed teeth.  If your teeth begin feeling a bit loose, don't worry; this is normal!  Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.