Caring for braces

Whether you wear metal braces, ceramic braces or lingual braces, you need to know how to look after them. If you take care of your braces properly, it’ll make them much more comfortable and effective, meaning you’re a step closer to that perfect smile each day!

So, let’s explore what can you do to maintain your oral health in check while you’re wearing braces.

How to have good oral hygiene with braces

Good oral hygiene is important at all stages of your life, but when you have braces it can stop your teeth from getting stained, protect the health of your gums and stop you from having bad breath. Whenever possible, you should always try to brush your teeth after every meal. If you can’t, then rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash can help to remove plaque and food build-up until you’re able to get to your toothbrush.

How to brush your teeth with braces

Brushing your teeth is always good practice, but it becomes especially important when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. When you wear braces, it’s much easier for pesky pieces of food and plaque to get trapped between the brackets and archwire, which can cause problems, so you should use a toothbrush with a soft head to access those hard-to-reach areas. If you prefer to use an electric toothbrush, that’s fine too.

To brush your teeth with braces, start off by brushing at the gum line of your teeth, holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards your gums. Once you’ve cleaned your gum line, hold your toothbrush at a downward angle on the top of your brackets, and then at an upward angle to clean the bottom of your brackets.

How often should I brush my teeth with braces? 

Although most people generally only need to brush twice a day, if you wear braces then we’d always recommend brushing after every meal. Keeping a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste handy in your bag is an easy way to make sure your mouth is clean and sparkling!

Flossing your teeth with braces

Flossing while wearing braces can be a bit of a feat, but it’s a step in your oral hygiene routine that shouldn’t be ignored. Flossing helps to remove any plaque build-up, as well as any smaller food particles that are stuck in your braces or between your teeth.

If you find it tricky to floss with flossing tape, try using floss threaders for braces or small interdental brushes. You can buy these in the supermarket or pharmacy, and they can help you manoeuvre around your brackets.

Remember to be gentle when you’re flossing. Try not to apply too much pressure or go too quickly as you could potentially damage your braces or gums, which could mean a trip back to see the orthodontist!

Avoid certain foods

Very few foods are actually off-limits when you wear braces, but your orthodontist will give you a list of foods you should avoid while undergoing treatment. A heads up – anything chewy, sticky, crunchy or hard is likely to be on the list.

Plus, if you’re the sort of person who’s always nibbling on your nails or chewing pen lids or your water bottle, you’ll need to curb that habit pretty quickly too! These types of habits and foods can break or bend the braces, which is never a good thing.

You should also avoid sugary foods and drinks as these can cause staining and decay around your brackets. These stains can be permanent and will become more obvious later when the braces are removed, which will not help you to achieve the perfect smile.

Foods to avoid with braces 

Anyone who wears fixed braces should avoid excessive snacking and should aim to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Foods to avoid with braces include:

• Chewy foods such as lollies and liquorice 
• Crunchy foods such as chips and popcorn 
• Sticky foods such as caramel and sugary bubble gum
• Hard food such as nuts and pretzels, or even chocolate straight out of the fridge 
• Foods that you need to bite into forcefully such as whole apples, raw carrots and corn on the cob. 
• Sugary foods such as lollies, boiled sweets 
• Sweet drinks such as fruit juice, cordial, soft drinks and/or energy drinks

To find out more about the type of foods that are best for braces, including during the first week of wearing braces, check out this article. 

What are the dos and don’ts of braces?

To look after your teeth as well as possible throughout your orthodontic journey, you can follow some simple dos and don’ts, including:

• Do brush and floss after every meal
• DON’T avoid flossing because it is difficult
• Do be careful about the foods you eat
• DON’T ignore loose or broken brackets (contact your orthodontist immediately)
• Do follow all your orthodontist’s care instructions

If you’re wearing braces, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make sure you’re going to get the best result. Keeping your teeth clean, taking the time to floss, and thinking about the food you eat are simple but effective steps to make sure you’ll have a perfect smile when the braces come off!

For more information about the dos and don’ts of wearing braces, take a look at our Kids and Orthodontics eBook.

How to maintain your teeth after braces?

After your braces are removed you might find that your oral hygiene is better than ever – so let’s keep it going. If you have a retainer, it is important that you wear it as consistently as your orthodontist instructs and to keep it clean. Similar to when you have braces, if you’re wearing a retainer, we recommend brushing your teeth after every meal and rinsing your mouth and retainers with water regularly. Your retainers will also need to be properly cleaned and cared for to maintain the appliance and also the health of your teeth and gums.

If you’re unsure about the health of your teeth and gums while undergoing orthodontic treatment, please ask to be shown the proper cleaning technique and continue having regular check-ups and professional cleaning with your family dentist.