Patient Guide for Traditional Braces
Orthodontic Care Instructions
Daily Care & Hygiene
Excellent oral hygiene is the most important part of your success with braces. The brackets and wires create many new places for plaque and food to hide, so you must be extra diligent with your cleaning routine.
Brushing and Flossing
- Brush After Every Meal: You must brush your teeth after every single meal and snack. Food trapped in your braces can quickly lead to cavities and puffy, inflamed gums.
- Water Flosser (Non-Negotiable): A water flosser (like a Waterpik®) is an essential tool for your daily routine. It is the most effective way to flush out food particles and plaque from around your brackets and under the wires where a toothbrush cannot reach.
- Special Tools are a Must: In addition to your water flosser, use an interproximal brush (a small, cone-shaped brush) to clean carefully around each bracket.
- Flossing is Critical: You will still need to use a floss threader or specialized orthodontic floss to thread the floss under your main archwire. This must be done at least once a day to clean between your teeth and maintain gum health.
Life After Braces: Retention is a Lifelong Commitment
- Your teeth have a natural tendency to shift throughout your life. To prevent this “orthodontic relapse” after your braces are removed, you must wear a retainer as instructed. This phase is just as important as the braces themselves.
- We will provide you with either a removable clear retainer (typically worn only at night) or a permanent retainer (a thin wire bonded behind your front teeth). Faithfully wearing your retainer is the only way to maintain your new smile for the long term.
Managing Discomfort
It is normal to feel some soreness or discomfort for a few days after your braces are first placed and after each adjustment appointment.
- General Soreness: Your teeth may feel tender to biting pressure. This is a sign that they are moving! Stick to soft foods like pasta, mashed potatoes, and smoothies for the first couple of days after an adjustment. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used as needed.
- Irritation to Cheeks and Lips: The new brackets may irritate the inside of your mouth initially. Your mouth will “toughen up” over time, but you can place a small piece of orthodontic wax over any bracket that is causing a sore spot for immediate relief.
Foods To Avoid (Braces)
To prevent breaking your brackets and wires—which can be uncomfortable and delay your treatment—you must avoid certain types of foods for the entire time you are in braces.
The “No” List:
- Hard Foods: Nuts, hard candies, popcorn (especially the kernels!), ice cubes, and hard pretzels.
- Chewy Foods: Bagels, hard rolls, licorice, and thick pizza crust.
- Sticky Foods: Caramels, taffy, Starbursts, and chewing gum.
- Crunchy Foods: Chips, hard taco shells, and popcorn.
- Foods You Bite Into: Corn on the cob, whole apples, and carrots. You can still eat these, but you must cut them into smaller, bite-sized pieces first!
Handling Emergencies
While you should always call our office if you have an issue, here are some tips for managing common problems at home until you can see us.
- Poking Wire: If a wire is poking your cheek, you can try to gently push it back into place with the eraser end of a pencil. If that doesn’t work, cover the sharp end with a small piece of orthodontic wax and call our office.
- Loose or Broken Bracket: This is not an emergency, but it needs to be fixed. If a bracket comes loose from a tooth, it will usually stay on the main wire. Leave it in place, cover it with wax if it’s irritating, and call our office to schedule a repair appointment.
- Loose Band: A band is the metal ring around a back molar. If one becomes loose, call us immediately to have it re-cemented.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my teeth be sore after an adjustment?
What happens if I eat something I'm not supposed to and break a bracket?
