Wearing braces is a big commitment, and it’s essential to take care of them properly to ensure your smile stays healthy and looks great. Whether you are new to wearing braces and looking for guidance, or you’ve been wearing them for a while and want to ensure you are doing everything right – these tips may help.

1. Brush Your Teeth and Braces Thoroughly

Cleaning your teeth and gums at least twice a day is an important part of any oral hygiene routine, but it’s particularly imperative when you have braces. Braces may make you more susceptible to plaque and tartar buildup, so diligent cleaning and maintenance are essential during braces care, and consistent cleaning helps reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease during treatment.

How to Floss With Braces

Before brushing your teeth, floss as part of your daily brushing and flossing routine to remove any food particles that may be stuck in your braces. Flossing with braces can be tricky, but with enough practice, it will become second nature.

To floss with braces, use traditional floss with floss threaders to guide it under the wire of each brace and clean around brackets and wires, where trapped food and food debris collect. Once the floss is through, you can floss between each tooth and under the gumline to remove plaque and debris, which can also contribute to bad breath. Continue to thread the floss through each brace until all of your teeth have been flossed.

Once complete, using a water flosser can help remove any remaining particles that may have been missed. Flossing daily is critical for oral hygiene with braces and helps prevent tooth decay.

How to Brush Your Braces for Better Oral Hygiene

Once you have completed flossing, the most tedious part is over, but it’s still important to brush your braces and teeth for two minutes after every meal or snack. Before brushing, don’t forget to remove elastics and other removable parts of your braces. The brackets and wires need extra attention because they create more places for plaque and food debris to collect.

To brush your teeth with braces, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste approved by the ADA, and carefully brush around each wire and bracket, using an interdental brush for tight spots to help keep your braces clean. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use gentle circular motions. Do not brush too hard as this can damage your braces and is bad for your teeth. After brushing, rinse with an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash for 30 seconds to help strengthen enamel and prevent cavities. Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles are worn.

2. Watch What You Eat for Braces Care

As one of our five tips, one of the quickest ways to damage your braces is by eating the wrong foods. As part of your diet during orthodontic treatment, hard foods like nuts and hard candies can damage braces, while sticky foods can get stuck in braces and should be avoided.

Foods to avoid with braces include:

• Hard candy
• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Gum
• Apples (cut them into slices instead of biting directly)
• Beef jerky

While you may have to give up some of your favorite foods, plenty of delicious and braces-friendly options are still available. Softer foods are easier to chew, and safe options during treatment include pasta and smoothies. Some good examples of braces-friendly foods include:

• Soft fruits like bananas, kiwis, and mangoes
• Cooked vegetables
• Soft cheese
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Ice cream
• Mashed potatoes

If you aren’t sure if a food is safe to eat with braces, the best rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution and avoid it. Talk to your orthodontist if you have any questions or concerns about what foods to avoid with braces.

3. Avoid Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are one of the worst beverages you can drink when you have braces. Not only are they loaded with sugar, but the acidity may also damage your braces. Furthermore, drinking sugary or acidic beverages can increase your risk of cavities and stain your teeth. Sports drinks and red wine can also harm tooth enamel and lead to staining or cavities while wearing braces.

Try sticking to tap water as the best drink choice while wearing braces, but if you do crave something else, opt for 100% fruit juice or a smoothie instead. Using a straw can also help minimize contact between sugary drinks and your teeth.

4. What to Do If Braces Brackets Break

No matter how cautious you are, sometimes accidents happen, and broken braces can prolong orthodontic treatment time if problems are not addressed promptly. If you have loose brackets, loose wires, or other broken appliances, contact your orthodontist immediately. In the meantime, if a wire is poking you, try using orthodontic wax to cover the sharp end as part of proper care. Keep an orthodontic care kit with dental wax and a travel toothbrush for minor emergencies. A warm water or warm salt water rinse can help soothe discomfort until your appointment. If a bracket comes off completely, save it, and notify your orthodontist right away about any unusual discomfort before your next appointment.

5. Regularly Visit Your Orthodontist During Orthodontic Treatment

Regularly visiting your orthodontist is one of the best things you can do to ensure your braces are in good condition and avoid any complications. During treatment, adjustment appointments are often scheduled every 6 to 10 weeks so your orthodontist can adjust your braces, make sure everything is still on track, and confirm you are wearing rubber bands exactly as directed, since they connect brackets and help guide tooth movement. If you play sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your mouth, teeth, and braces during treatment. Regular check-ups help ensure braces function as intended. Patients should also keep seeing their dentist for professional cleanings every six months to support gum health and overall dental health.

Contact Abra Dental

Taking care of your braces while maintaining good oral hygiene may take some time to get used to, but our team at Abra Dental is here to help with personalized braces care tips and care for braces. If you have any questions or concerns regarding orthodontic or dental care, contact Abra Dental today.