Caring For Your Braces
Braces work 24/7, so daily care matters as much as the appointments. Plaque and food collect around brackets faster than around bare teeth – a regular cleaning routine helps protect your teeth throughout treatment.
Quick reference
- Brush after every meal
- Use a soft-bristle brush angled at 45 degrees to clean around each bracket – above, below, and on every side
- An interdental brush (a tiny bottle-brush shape) cleans under the wire and between brackets where a regular brush cannot reach
- Floss daily using a floss threader, Super Floss, or a water flosser
- Daily cleaning between teeth helps reduce the risk of white spots and decay during treatment
- Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, and chewy foods – popcorn, hard candy, gum, caramel, ice, whole nuts
- These break brackets and bend wires
- Cut crunchy foods (apples, carrots, bagels) into small pieces and chew with your back teeth
- If a wire pokes you, cover it with the orthodontic wax we gave you and call us so we can trim it at your next visit
Questions about your treatment?
We are always happy to explain. Call the clinic during opening hours, or book a visit online.