Overall, orthodontic discomfort is short-lived and easily managed. Once patients become accustomed to their braces, they may even forget they have them on. If you have braces, the longest appointments will be to place and remove your braces, and will likely be scheduled during the work day. Appointments to adjust braces or pick up a new set of aligners, scheduled every 6 to 10 weeks, are usually short.
Your orthodontist will give specific instructions, but in general, you should brush for two minutes after every meal or snack, and before bed.
Bring along floss and an interproximal brush, too. It can help you get rid of some food particles or traces of beverages. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended , approved by the American Dental Association, preferably without any whitening. Flossing is crucial to successful orthodontic treatment, and to on-going oral health. Brushing and flossing keep teeth and gums clean by removing plaque and food debris.
When plaque and trapped food are left on the teeth and around braces, the outcome can be cavities, swollen gums, bad breath and permanent white marks on the teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene helps to minimize your time in treatment, and contributes to a healthy result. Use the toothbrush that works best for you. Make sure you brush for two minutes each time you brush!
Change the toothbrush or power toothbrush head at the first sign of wear, or at least every three months. Your orthodontist may suggest dipping an interproximal brush in a capful of fluoride rinse to deliver fluoride protection between the teeth, or using a fluoride rinse instead of water in an irrigator.
A healthy diet supports the body as it undergoes the biological changes that occur during orthodontic treatment. You are encouraged to enjoy a variety of healthful, easy-to-chew foods during orthodontic treatment.
Soups, stews, casseroles, pasta, scrambled eggs and smoothies can be good choices. You can enjoy fresh fruits like apples and pears, but they should be sliced rather than bitten into.
Similarly, sandwiches and pizza are OK, but they should be cut into bite-sized pieces. Cut corn off the cob before serving. Stay away from foods that are hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy for the duration of treatment.
Sugary and starchy foods should be avoided, too. Ban foods such as hard pretzels, hard pizza crust, crusty bread, taco chips, caramels, popcorn, licorice, taffy, suckers, hard candies or mints and nuts for the duration of your treatment.
Tap water and milk are your best choices for drinks while braces are on. Beverages like coffee, tea and red wine can stain teeth.
Try to avoid these, or keep them to a minimum. Avoid regular and diet soft drinks when wearing braces. Be sure to brush right away after drinking a soft drink. If brushing is not possible, rinse thoroughly with water.
You are encouraged to enjoy a variety of healthful foods during orthodontic treatment. Just be sure to take your aligners out before you eat, and before you put them back in, clean your teeth thoroughly. Nothing is off-limits.
Just be conscious of the need to take out aligners to eat, and to clean your teeth before putting your aligners back in. Tap water is the only beverage that is safe to drink when your aligners are in. In fact, there are several alternatives that may be used. Doing this can help ensure that your treatment proceeds as planned. Braces work by exerting pressure on your jawline to change the way your smile appears.
Read about what it's like to get and maintain your braces, as…. Power chains are added to braces to apply more force to close gaps between teeth, but can also help align your teeth and jaw. Learn more about how…. Self-ligating braces use a built-in mechanism to hold the archwire in place. They differ from traditional braces, which use elastic ties or metal…. Learn how to floss with braces using different types of tools.
If you're getting braces, you may be wondering, how are braces put on? From spacers to bands, brackets, and wires, we explain the process and what to…. Invisible braces, or clear aligners, are a great option for people looking to straighten their teeth without traditional metal braces. This article…. Damon braces use a self-litigating sliding system to connect archwires to brackets instead of elastic ties. Learn more about this orthodontic….
The process of getting Invisalign is different than getting traditional braces. Here we break down the process and examine who makes a good candidate. Bite blocks, also called ramps or pumps, help prevent your upper teeth and lower teeth from touching while you have braces.
For some people, using…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Purpose and benefits Types When do you use them? How long do you wear them? What do rubber bands do for braces? Types of elastics in braces. When do you start wearing rubber bands for braces?
How long do orthodontic rubber bands stay on your braces? Are there any side effects? Caring for your teeth while wearing braces with rubber bands.
What to do if the elastics come off. Alternatives to braces with elastics. Read this next. If you encounter a problem with your braces and you have to call us, it is helpful if you can describe the different parts of your braces to us. We have provided the pictures below with all the descriptions to be a map and guide to your braces.
Bracket — Small metal or ceramic attachment glued to the teeth so the wire can be placed in the slot of the bracket. Archwire — The main wire that connects all the brackets and guides the direction the teeth move. Elastics — the rubber bands are used to apply pressure to the jaw, pulling forward or backward to line up the top and bottom teeth. Molar Band — The thin ring of metal around the back teeth usually with a hook to attach elastics.
Headgear tube — Tube on the outside of the top molars.
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