From what to do & what not to do, keep on track with our top tips
Whether it’s for a straighter smile, to close a gap or to fix an overbite, everyone has their own reasons for getting braces. In fact, around a third of children need orthodontic treatment, while 20% of adults have braces.
But with braces comes another level of dental hygiene to maintain. With this in mind, it’s time to brush up on your oral hygiene and learn how to properly care for your braces – and your teeth – with our top tips.
Braces hygiene dos & don’ts
Everyone’s experience with braces is different, but a general rule of thumb is to stick to the following tips to help keep on top of your dental hygiene.
DO:
Clean your teeth twice daily & after eating
Do this in the mornings and evenings as usual and carry around a small toothbrush when you’re on the go to keep teeth and braces clean after eating or snacking. If you find yourself without a toothbrush, try swishing some water around in your mouth to lift away any food particles that may be stuck in your teeth.
Floss at least once daily & use a fluoride mouthwash
Clean in between your teeth as part of your usual brushing routine. If flossing isn’t for you, then you can try interdental brushes, floss threaders or water flosses too. Not forgetting to finish with a mouthwash – aim for a fluoride one but ask your orthodontist to recommend one if you’re unsure.
Replace your toothbrush at least every three months
Thanks to the metal on the braces, bristles can wear out more frequently, so try to replace your toothbrush every two to three months. This applies to both a manual and electric toothbrush – both are fine to use but the electric one can usually clean those harder to reach spots.
Help relieve any discomfort
After a brace has been fitted, it may feel a little uncomfortable for the first few days and cause your teeth to ache. If the pain does persist or get worse, however, talk to your dentist or orthodontist. It’s also a good idea to keep eating soft foods and try applying some dental wax on your brackets if they’re rubbing against the inside of your cheek. You can also consider taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which may help the pain subside, if suitable for you.
Keep visiting your orthodontist
Regularly attending your appointments gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have, keep an eye on your progress and get advice on how to care for your specific needs.
DON'T:
Forget to remove elastic bands, if you have them
Not only can removing these elastics make it easier to eat, but it also helps to prevent them from snapping with every mouthful and becoming discoloured or dirty from the foods you eat.
Bite your nails or pens & pencils
Doing this can add pressure to your teeth and may weaken the roots. It can also bend the wires and break your brackets.
Use your teeth as tools
If you’re used to using your teeth to open packets, bottles or anything else, try to kick this habit and use your hands instead as this could damage your braces.
Play any sport without a mouth guard
If you regularly play sports, speak to your orthodontist about your concerns and they may be able to design you a mouthguard to wear to help protect your teeth and braces.
Eat sugary, hard or crunchy foods
Certain foods and chewing gum can get stuck in your braces or even damage and break them, but we’ll get into these next.
Foods to avoid
Having braces can feel a little strange at first, so they may take a while to get used to. Be mindful that they’re sensitive to damage, too. Certain foods can damage the wires and bands or even cause a bracket to separate from a tooth. When it comes to food, there are a handful of absolute no-go’s, so try to avoid eating:
- Popcorn
- Caramel
- Chewing gum
- Nuts
- Corn on the cob
- Sugary foods and drinks
- Sticky foods
- Hard sweets
- Bagels, baguettes and other hard bread rolls
- Crunchy vegetables like raw carrots and whole apples
- Pizza crusts
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Crisps
- Ice
How to clean your teeth with braces
Now if you’re new to braces, brushing your teeth will inevitably get a little more intricate – your standard brushing just won’t quite cut it for the time being.
Sometimes the care for your braces will depend on the type you have but if you’re unsure, ask your orthodontist for advice. As a general guide, simply follow these steps and it’ll soon become part of your routine:
Step 1
Before you brush, rinse your mouth with water to help loosen any food that may be stuck around your braces.
Step 2
Start brushing (use either an electric toothbrush or a manual one with soft, round bristles) at the gumline at a 45-degree angle.
Step 3
Next, place your toothbrush on top of the brace brackets and angle down to brush the top of each bracket.
Step 4
Then, do this again but reposition so you’re slowly brushing the bottom of the bracket and wire, angling your toothbrush up.
Step 5
Make sure you brush every tooth at the gumline, as well as above and below the brackets to help remove any food and plaque.
Step 6
To clean in between your teeth, try flossing or water flossers, (like we mentioned above) to help get rid of food particles in tight gaps.
Step 7
After brushing, rinse with a fluoride mouthwash to help get a fresh mouth feeling.
Ready to tackle life with braces? Now you’ve brushed up on dental hygiene for braces, you’ll be feeling fresh and looking sharp in more ways than one…
