Home Care

Brushing

With braces, keeping your teeth clean requires extra care. Food easily becomes trapped around the brackets and between the teeth, and it can only be removed with thorough brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for an extended period, it can cause permanent white marks (decalcification) on the enamel.

Brushing after every meal should become part of your daily routine. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline. Clean in small circular motions above and below each bracket to ensure all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned.

Because braces cause toothbrush bristles to wear out more quickly, replace your toothbrush as soon as the bristles begin to fray.

A water flosser, such as a Waterpik, can help flush out food debris around the braces. However, it does not remove the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth, so daily flossing is still essential. Floss threaders can be used to guide floss under the wires and are reusable.

Consistent brushing and flossing will help protect your teeth and keep your smile healthy throughout orthodontic treatment.

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Eating Habits

To protect your braces and prevent broken brackets or bent wires, please follow these important dietary guidelines.

Avoid Hard Foods

These foods can easily damage your braces:

• Nuts
• Ice
• Crisp taco shells
• Whole apples and raw carrots (cut into small pieces first)
• Hard French bread crusts and rolls
• Spareribs
• Corn on the cob (cut corn off the cob before eating)
• Popcorn

Also avoid habits such as nail biting and chewing on pens or pencils, as they can damage your braces.

Avoid Sticky Foods

Sticky foods can pull brackets off and are very difficult to clean from around braces:

• Taffy
• Caramels
• Bubble gum
• Sticky candy of any kind

Eat Much Less

Limit sugary foods, as they increase the risk of cavities and permanent white marks on teeth:

• Candy
• Ice cream
• Cake and cookies
• Pie
• Foods high in sugar

Drink Much Less

Sugary drinks can cause tooth decay and staining around brackets:

• Soda / pop
• Any drinks containing sugar

When in doubt, use common sense. If a food is hard, sticky, or very sugary, it’s best to avoid or limit it. Following these guidelines will help keep your treatment on schedule and your smile healthy.