Brace care
Looking after your braces doesn’t just ensure they are kept clean and intact, it also helps keep your treatment on track to achieve the best results. Follow our handy tips to make sure that your treatment goes smoothly and you’re left with a brilliant smile.
Brace care for fixed braces
Taking care of your braces
Brushing your teeth is even more important when wearing braces as your braces themselves can trap food in them. It is important to remove any bacteria after eating and before and after bed to ensure plaque doesn’t build up on your teeth and cause decay.
Fixed braces, whether fixed to the front of your teeth or the back, can make cleaning your teeth more difficult. When your braces have been fitted, you will be offered to purchase a care pack from reception containing special toothbrushes, disclosing tablets, fluoride mouthwash, special floss, and other specific tools to make keeping your teeth and braces clean easier.
Removable options such as Invisalign® clear aligners allow for much easier cleaning. Simply remove the aligner tray and brush your teeth as usual, replacing the aligner once you’re finished. Your aligners should be cleaned every time you brush your teeth. They can be cleaned using a normal toothbrush and toothpaste, or Retainer Brite (this can be purchased at our reception in a care pack specific for clear aligners).
When you begin your treatment, our nurses will go through the proper cleaning procedures with you and show you a short video about proper brace and aligner care.
Eating with braces
Having braces fitted is not a complete change in lifestyle, but certain foods will need to be avoided in order to protect your braces and your teeth during your treatment. These guides are designed for fixed braces, but are good advice for those that use Invisalign® treatment also.
Things to do:
- Eat a healthy, varied diet
- Cut up food into smaller pieces to enable your teeth to chew more easily
- Get your five fruits and veg a day with the help of smoothies and soups
- Drink plenty of water
- Brush your teeth after every meal and snack
Things to avoid:
- Hard, chewy, or sticky sweets like toffee as these can damage your braces
- Biting into hard foods such as apples or carrots. Grate them instead!
- Consuming excessive amounts of sugary drinks
- Eating popcorn (as it can get stuck in your braces)
- Chewing gum, biting your nails or nibbling on the end of pencils. These habits can damage your braces.
Looking after your retainer
Along with these useful tips and tricks, you’ll be given important information about the care of your braces or aligners during treatment. Following these guidelines is the best way to ensure your treatment is completed on time. Eating foods that aren’t recommended, or not following the correct care procedures, can result in breakages that can extend treatment times.
Breakages can cause delays with your treatment and even damage to your teeth and gums. Should you notice any problems with your braces, it’s important to get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can address the problem and get you back on track.
Breakages and emergencies
Along with these useful tips and tricks, you’ll be given important information about the care of your braces or aligners during treatment. Following these guidelines is the best way to ensure your treatment is completed on time. Eating foods that aren’t recommended, or not following the correct care procedures, can result in breakages that can extend treatment times.
Breakages can cause delays with your treatment and even damage to your teeth and gums. Should you notice any problems with your braces, it’s important to get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can address the problem and get you back on track.
Information leaflet downloads
To make looking after your braces easier, we have a list of resources for you to download here. If there’s a question you have that isn’t answered here, feel free to call our practice and speak to our support team who will be happy to help you.