Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s essential for you to know how to take care of your braces properly throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Preventing damage to braces

Braces can be damaged by eating hard foods, rough handling by a toothbrush, trauma to the mouth, and severe tooth grinding on the braces. Broken appliances mean extra and longer appointments during school hours, longer time in braces, and possibly extra cost.

Eating hard foods

Totally avoid very hard foods like Minties, toffees, hard muesli bars, etc. Even if you think you can eat these items without breaking off a bracket, they are most likely damaging the wire, which then cannot move the teeth quickly. Chewing gum is also bad, because it constantly flexes the wire and may cause it to break.

Be very careful with foods like apples, whole carrots, etc. These must be cut up finely and not bitten into whole. The same applies to meat, cooked vegetables, etc. Cut it up a bit smaller than normal and be careful.

Foods with stones, bones, or hard cores like peaches, chicken legs, and corn need to have the stone or bone or core removed so you do not accidentally bite into the hard part. Also be careful with the crusts of toast or pizza; if they are hard, avoid them.

What will I feel with new braces?

When you first get braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just had braces placed, and this feeling does not usually last longer than a few days. To relieve the discomfort you may wish to take appropriate pain relief medication but most patients do not need it.

It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they become used to the braces. We provide wax that can be placed over the braces to lessen the tenderness.

Preventing tooth decay

Tooth decay can leave ugly scars on the teeth which are quite visible when the braces come off, but it only happens when plaque is being left on the teeth. You now have lots of places around your braces where plaque and bits of food can hide, so it’s vital to remember that tooth decay is totally preventable by:

Tooth cleaning as we’ve shown you
Using the fluoride mouth rinse each night, and
Avoiding all sweet food and drink between meals

Sweet drinks include all soft drinks, sports drinks (like ‘Gatorade’), fruit juices, even if they advertise ‘no added sugar’, and cordials. The diet versions of soft drinks are less likely to cause problems, but they are still very acidic, and should be saved for special occasions.

That also goes for any sweet foods like chocolate and other non-sticky sweets. They are least likely to cause problems if they are eaten with a meal and then the teeth should be brushed afterwards. So between meals, stick to milk or water.

Further information regarding healthy snacks — coming soon!

Care of Your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances consistently as prescribed by Dr. Schneider, Dr. Theodosi, Dr. Wong, Dr. Cornelis or Dr. Kei.

Loose Wires and Bands

Click here for more information.

Keeping your teeth clean with Braces

When you have braces, it is very important to brush after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. Flossing and spiral brushing should occur once a day. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance. Click here for brushing and flossing instructions.

Playing Sports with Braces

Sports-related injuries to the mouth and jaw are among the most common injuries suffered by athletes. Protecting your teeth while playing sports is essential when you have braces. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury.

If you play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance. A complimentary non-fitted mouthguard is provided to cover upper and lower teeth when your braces are first placed. A customised fitted mouthguard can also be arranged if necessary.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and your appliance immediately for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your appliance has been damaged, please contact us as soon as possible.