Life with Braces

If you’re getting ready for braces, or you’re already wearing them, the information below will prepare you further to face the world with your new smile. No matter how long your treatment lasts, the time you spend wearing braces is relatively short compared to the brilliantly straight teeth you’ll enjoy for the rest of your life.

Here’s some important information about life with braces.

Daily Activities & Braces

Food – Choose foods that are softer. Avoid foods that are hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy. Cut or tear sandwiches and pizza rather than biting into them. Right after you get braces or whenever they are adjusted, you may want foods that require little or no chewing such as soup and macaroni and cheese.

Care & Maintenance – It’s important to take especially good care of your teeth during orthodontic treatment. Brushing and flossing regularly, will keep your teeth and gums in top condition and ensure that your orthodontic treatment will deliver the healthiest smile possible.

When to clean? – Brush thoroughly after each time you have a meal or snack. If you can’t brush right away after a meal, be sure to at least rinse your mouth well with water until you can brush. Carry a travel toothbrush so that you can brush when away from home.

At least once every day, brush your teeth and braces thoroughly until they are spotlessly clean, and then floss. This takes a little extra time, so you may want to do it at night before going to bed.

How to brush? – A good way to tell if you’re brushing correctly is if your braces look clean and shiny, and you can see the edges of the braces clearly. Here are some tips below:

• Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush that’s in good condition. As braces wear out a toothbrush quickly, replace your brush as soon as it shows signs of wear.
• Brush around all the parts of your braces and every surface of your teeth—fronts, sides and backs. Be sure to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
• Brush your gums gently and thoroughly.
• Rinse thoroughly after brushing.

How to floss? – Flossing with braces on may seem like a difficult process, but it’s very important. With the new Air Floss Pro however, this makes flossing much easier.

• Floss every night before you go to bed with the Air Floss Pro by Phillips.
• When flossing with braces on, it may also be necessary to use what’s called a floss threader. This reusable tool allows you to get dental floss underneath your archwire easily.
• Make sure you clean carefully along and under the gumlines.

 

*The Behrens Dental Plan can offer you 0% finance over up to 2 years, on a plan that suits you.