Brace care

Name: Harpenden Orthodontic Practice
Telephone: 01582 465 200

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.

Brace care
for fixed braces

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Care for your
clear aligners

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Brace Care for
Carriere appliance

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Taking care of your braces

Maintaining good oral hygiene is especially important when wearing braces, as they can easily trap food particles. To prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay, it's essential to remove bacteria by brushing after meals and both before and after bed.

Fixed braces can make cleaning more challenging. When your braces are fitted, you’ll have the option to purchase a care pack at reception. This pack includes special toothbrushes, disclosing tablets, fluoride mouthwash, floss, and other tools designed to help you keep both your teeth and braces clean.

Removable options like Invisalign® clear aligners make daily cleaning simpler. You can take out the aligners, brush your teeth as normal, and then put them back in once you're done.

Aligners should be cleaned each time you brush your teeth. This can be done using a regular toothbrush and toothpaste, or with Retainer Brite, which is available to purchase in our care pack tailored for clear aligner users.

At the start of your treatment, our nurses will guide you through the correct cleaning techniques and show you a short video on how to care for your braces or aligners.

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.

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 with braces:

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.

Breakages and emergencies

In addition to these helpful tips, you’ll receive essential guidance on how to care for your braces or aligners throughout your treatment. Following these instructions carefully is the best way to keep your treatment on schedule. Eating unsuitable foods or neglecting proper care can lead to damage that may prolong your treatment.

Breakages can delay your progress and may even harm your teeth or gums. If you experience any issues with your braces, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible so we can resolve the problem and keep your treatment 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.

Information leaflets