Home Care Instructions for Braces
Congratulations on starting your Smile Journey! Our Life Orthodontics team is excited to be with you every step of the way. Whether it's brushing, flossing, or other tips to keep your smile healthy and bright, we’re here to help. Let’s make this process enjoyable and ensure the best results!
Proper care of your braces is essential to achieving your new smile. Below are general instructions for after the braces are placed:
Oral Hygiene:
We covered oral hygiene tips and tricks in our previous blog post, but here’s a quick recap:
Brushing: Brush three times daily – in the morning, after lunch, and before bedtime. Angle your brush in three ways: above the brackets, below the brackets, and toward the gumline. Gently brush each area and at each angle for about five seconds. Brushing thoroughly should take at least two minutes each time.
Flossing: Use the provided platypus flossers, which makes flossing easier by fitting underneath the braces wire. Floss once daily.
Mouthwash: Use an anticavity fluoride mouthwash twice a day – in the morning and before bedtime. Any of the major mouthwash brands like Listerine, ACT, or Crest work well.
Managing Discomfort:
It’s common to experience some discomfort in the first few days to a couple of weeks as your teeth begin to move. You may also experience sore spots on your cheeks or lips from the braces rubbing against them. Here are some tips on how to manage discomfort:
Pain Relief: Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) as needed, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Orthodontic Wax: Apply orthodontic wax to brackets or wires causing irritation. Roll a small piece of wax into a ball, flatten it, and apply it to the braces. Dry the area with a tissue before applying to ensure it sticks.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can reduce mouth dryness and help prevent sore spots.
Oral Rinses: For sore spots, rinse with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water) for 30 seconds. Repeat three times daily as needed. Oral mouth sore rinses, available at drugstores or on Amazon, can also help soothe sore spots.
Soft Foods: During the initial adjustment period, stick to soft foods such as soups, yogurts, pasta, smoothies, or even ice cream.
Adjusting Your Diet:
Avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods: We used a specially formulated dental glue to attach your braces to your teeth, but like anything that’s connected by glue, it can break and become loose. When one of your brackets breaks off your tooth, it will stop working and will slow down your overall treatment. The most common way your braces break is from eating hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Some examples of foods to avoid and some general tips to follow are:
o Hard foods: Ice cubes, pizza crust, hard candy, whole apples, raw carrots
o Sticky foods: Gum, caramel, taffy, starbursts, tootsie rolls
o Crunchy foods: Nuts, chips, popcorn kernels
o Cut hard fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots into small pieces
o Remove meat from the bone before eating (e.g., chicken wings, ribs)
o Avoid chewing on non-food items like pens,pencils, or fingernails
Minimize drinks with high sugar content(e.g., soda): Sugary and acidic drinks like sodas, Gatorade, and Powerade can increase the risk of cavities, especially around braces. If you do indulge occasionally, make sure to rinse your mouth out with water immediately afterward.
Emergency Care:
Loose Bracket or Wire: If a bracket comes loose or a wire sticks out and is poking your mouth, contact us as soon as possible, and we'll see you for a care visit to repair it. Use orthodontic wax to cover the area until we can repair it.
Swallowed Wire or Bracket: In the rare event that you swallow a wire or bracket, it’s usually not harmful, but inform us so we can assess the situation.
Regular Check-Up Appointments
Appointments: Keep all adjustment appointments as scheduled, typically every 4-6 weeks or as recommended by Dr. Lee or Dr. Pi. These regular check-up visits ensure your treatment stays on track.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask us about anything! We’re here to help with any concerns about your care.
Sports with Braces
If you play sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your braces and mouth. Mouthguards designed for braces can be found on Amazon or your local sporting goods store. We recommend brands like Shock Doctor or SISU.
Following these instructions will ensure your braces treatment is as comfortable and effective as possible. If you experience persistent or severe discomfort, or if there’s a problem you can’t manage, be sure to contact our office at (714) 418-4858 or email us at hello@lifeorthodontics.com.
