How to Care For Your Braces

It is important to maintain a clean mouth at all times, but it is even more important to do so throughout your orthodontic treatment. The care you take today will ensure a beautiful smile forever. This means that special care must be given to your teeth and your gum tissue. At either our Brantford or Hamilton office, we will show you in detail how to take care of your braces, teeth and gums, and we will provide you with written instructions when you leave our office to help you remember.

Poor oral hygiene can result in permanent “marks” or “scars” on your teeth, due to plaque build-up. These “marks” or “scars” are referred to as decalcification, which is actually the onset of DECAY, and can begin to appear within as little as two weeks of exercising inadequate oral hygiene habits.

Tartar control toothpaste is essential. Flossing on a daily basis is also crucial and can be done using “floss threaders”. Thread the floss into the loop and pass the threader between the teeth under the wire. Hold onto one end of the floss and pull the other end through. Floss between the tooth and gum (each space has 2 teeth). Pull straight out when finished. Threaders can be reused. Floss threaders are available at larger drug stores in the dental care display.

Also, your family dentist is an important part of your oral healthcare team. We recommend that you visit our Brantford or Hamilton office every four to six months throughout your treatment.

General Soreness

You may find that your teeth will be tender during the two or three days after you get your braces on. The wire that is attached to the brackets on your teeth applies pressure to your teeth and starts moving them. Nature helps the teeth loosen to relieve the pressure, but there is temporary discomfort while this happens. Gradually, the fibers that support the teeth in the bone get stretched and squeezed. After about three days, the teeth feel much more comfortable.

At each appointment, the process is repeated. However, because the teeth are loosened from their original position, each new adjustment is easier and little or no discomfort follows.

Advil may be needed for some patients over the first few days, because the teeth will be tender. It will be more comfortable if you maintain a softer diet, such as pasta, soups and soft sandwiches.

The lips, cheeks and tongue may also feel irritated for a few days as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. Warm salt-water rinses can be used along with wax to protect the area. This wax will come off with eating, brushing or drinking cold drinks. Sugarless gum can be used at the back of the mouth if you have run out of wax.

Loosening of Teeth

You may notice throughout your treatment that some of your teeth seem to be loose. They are, but don’t worry! In order for teeth to be moved, they must be loosened. Eventually, your teeth will again become firmly fixed in their new and corrected positions (and will stay there with the help of your retainers).