8 tips for proper brace care
Avoid chewy, sticky candy - Your brackets can get stuck to caramel, toffee, and gum and can come dislodged from your teeth. This can result in uncomfortable breakages, and can prolong your treatment time.
Cut hard food into bite-size pieces - Avoid biting directly into hard foods like apples, carrots, pizza, and crusty sandwiches. Cut them into small pieces instead and chew with your back teeth. Avoid chewing ice cubes - but you can still enjoy shave ice of course!
Break those bad habits - If you’re a nail biter or like to chew on the end of a pencil, these habits can cause your appliance to break. It’s best to break those habits as soon as possible!
Carry a toothbrush out with you - It’s recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal or snack during treatment. As such, it’s helpful to take a toothbrush with you to work or school.
Use fluoride mouthwash - A daily mouthwash will keep your smile clean and help prevent plaque buildup around your brackets.
Floss at least once a day - It’s especially easy for food to get trapped between your teeth during treatment with braces. Flossing will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can prolong your treatment journey.
Brush gently around your brackets - Be careful not to smack your brackets with your toothbrush handle, as this could damage them. Brush in gentle circular motions around the brackets to clean them from every angle.
Contact us immediately about breakages - If you do experience a broken wire or bracket, please contact our team as soon as possible so we can schedule a repair appointment to get your treatment back on track.
