Home Care Instructions for Your Braces

Congratulations on your new braces! You may find that over the next few days your teeth and gums may be sore, you’ll produce more saliva than usual, some patients may develop sores on their lips and cheeks, and it's harder to clean your teeth. Here are a few helpful hints to make the transition smoother. 

1. Avoid any Sticky or hard foods, and drinks with high sugar content (i.e. soda):

Examples of hard foods to avoid:

Hard candy

Popcorn (especially the kernel)

Jerky

Ice

Nuts

Pizza crust / bagels

Corn on the cob

2. Proper oral hygiene is very important in order to prevent cavities and decalcification.

We love teeth! We want them to look amazingly straight and healthy when your treatment is finished. If teeth are not cared for properly, they may develop white spots on the surface that cannot be removed (decalcification). Brushing after meals and flossing will help prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. Use a soft toothbrush and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth in small circles above and below the brackets. 

3. THERE MAY BE TIMES DURING YOUR TREATMENT THAT BRACKETS COME LOOSE AND/OR ARCH WIRES BEGIN TO POKE.

DO NOT PANIC! Contact our office so we can help. Use wax to cover the irritation. The first couple wires can often be trimmed using fingernail clippers. The most important thing is to make you feel comfortable until we can repair the damaged bracket or poking wire. It is ok if you need to remove the wire or bracket until we see you, just bring it in with you at your next visit. Very rarely is the length of treatment affected. 

4. YOUR TEETH AND GUMS MAY BE SORE AFTER EACH VISIT, AND SORES MAY DEVELOP ON YOUR LIPS AND CHEEKS.

For pain management, use the dose of medication you would normally use for pain. This usually corresponds with the recommendations on the package label. Chewing sugarless gum can sometimes help relieve the tension in your teeth. 

Wax can be used around braces and wires that are causing irritation. Before applying wax, try to dry the area as much as possible. It will help the wax stick better to the braces.