Life With Braces

Caring for your braces

Proper care for your braces and 3M aligners is crucial in ensuring that your orthodontic treatment is completed on time! Here are all the tips and tricks you need to know about caring for your braces and 3M aligners to get the best possible results.

Brushing and flossing with braces: One of the most important things you should remember is to brush and floss after every meal! Even though this may seem like a lot of work, it keeps your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. Brushing with braces may seem hard at first, so here are some helpful instructions that will make you a pro in no time!

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and begin by brushing the outside of your teeth and braces. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush the tops and bottoms of your braces. Do this all the way around your teeth to make sure that you brushed every area!

It is common for food to get stuck in your braces, so flossing is a very important step in having good oral hygiene. To floss with braces, use a threader to thread the floss behind each wire and use a back-and-forth motion. Once you have cleaned behind each wire, floss in between your teeth by sliding the flood in between your teeth while using the same back and forth motion.

What you can and cannot eat with braces: Unfortunately, some foods do not mix well with braces, and at the beginning of your journey, the foods you can eat will be limited. It won’t be easy at first, but soon you will get used to what you can and cannot eat with braces!

Foods you can eat:

• Soft cheese
• Pudding
• Soft tortillas
• Pancakes
• Muffins without nuts
• Pasta
• Rice
• Chicken
• Meatballs
• Lunch meats
• Mashed potatoes
• Applesauce
• Bananas

Foods you cannot eat with braces:

• Popcorn
• Chips
• Ice
• Caramel candies
• Gum
• Nuts
• Hard candies
• Corn on the cob
• Apples
• Carrots

Caring for your 3M aligners

Many people choose clear aligners over braces because they require less maintenance than braces. This is true, but there are still a few things you need to remember when undergoing 3M treatment.

Your aligners should be removed when performing oral hygiene activities, eating, and when drinking anything other than water

You need to wear your aligners 22 hours a day for the best results

You should clean your aligners before bed by gently burnishing them with your toothbrush

If you need to wear rubber bands with your aligners, you will need to wear them whenever your aligners are in your mouth

Braces Emergencies

Unfortunately, braces emergencies do happen, but luckily most situations can be temporarily fixed while at home!

If your bracket or wire becomes loose, simply poke it back into place with tweezers or a pencil eraser until you can get an appointment to have it fixed. If this does not solve the problem, cover the area with orthodontic wax to relieve any irritation.

If you are experiencing any tooth discomfort, take over-the-counter pain relievers and cover any mouth sores you may have with orthodontic wax. While your teeth are shifting, it is completely normal to experience some level of discomfort while your mouth adjusts to having braces!

When playing sports, remember to always wear a mouthguard to protect the inside of your mouth from damage! If you do find yourself in a sports-related orthodontic emergency, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater and apply orthodontic wax in problem areas.

If you find yourself or your child is having an orthodontic emergency, call our office right to set up an appointment to fix the issue!