Patient Care Guide
Taking Care of Your Braces
A practical guide to cleaning, eating and caring for your orthodontic appliances throughout treatment.
Braces Care at a Glance
Healthy habits, comfortable treatment
Use these visual reminders along with the detailed instructions below.
Parts of Your New Braces
Understanding the different parts of your braces can make appliance care and communication with our office much easier.
Brackets
Brackets are the small metal or clear ceramic attachments bonded directly to your teeth. They act like handles, allowing the archwire to guide each tooth into its planned position.
Bands
Bands are thin metal rings that may be fitted around certain teeth, most commonly the molars. They provide additional strength when a standard bonded attachment may not be enough.
Archwires
The archwire passes through the brackets and acts as a guide or track for tooth movement. Different archwires may be used as your treatment progresses.
Elastics or Rubber Bands
Elastics apply additional force between selected teeth or between the upper and lower arches. They are commonly introduced during a later stage of treatment.
Maintaining Your Braces
Excellent home care makes a major difference throughout orthodontic treatment. The goal is to keep plaque from collecting around brackets, wires and the gumline.
Plaque Is the Main Concern
Plaque can collect around brackets, underneath wires and along the gumline. Thorough daily cleaning helps reduce swollen gums, bad breath, cavities, discolouration and permanent marks on the teeth.
Keep Your Regular Dental Visits
Continue seeing your family dentist for regular examinations and professional cleanings throughout orthodontic treatment.
When Should You Clean Your Teeth?
- Brush thoroughly at least four times each day, especially after meals and before bed.
- When you cannot brush immediately, rinse thoroughly with water until you are able to brush.
- Keep a travel toothbrush at work, school or in your bag.
- Floss at least once every day.
- Make your bedtime brushing and flossing routine your most thorough cleaning of the day.
Orthodontic Brushing
Cleaning around brackets and wires takes a little more time, but careful brushing helps keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Use fluoridated toothpaste and a soft bristled toothbrush in good condition.
- Replace your toothbrush when the bristles become bent or worn.
- Brush above, below and directly around every bracket and underneath the archwire.
- Clean the front, back and chewing surfaces of every tooth.
- Gently brush along the gumline and remember to brush your tongue.
- Rinse thoroughly and inspect your braces in a well lit mirror.
Orthodontic Flossing
A floss threader can make it easier to guide dental floss underneath the archwire.
1. Prepare the Floss
Cut approximately 18 inches of floss and insert one end through the loop of the floss threader.
2. Thread Under the Archwire
Guide the threader carefully underneath the archwire between two brackets.
3. Clean Between the Teeth
Curve the floss around each tooth and gently clean along both sides and underneath the gumline.
4. Repeat
Re thread the floss underneath the next section of archwire and repeat between every pair of teeth.
Eating With Braces
Most foods can still be enjoyed when prepared carefully. Hard and sticky foods can bend wires, loosen bands or break brackets and may delay treatment.
Foods to Avoid
- Popcorn
- Peanuts and hard nuts
- Hard corn chips, tacos and nachos
- Caramel and taffy
- Ice
- Corn on the cob
- Bubble gum and chewing gum
Foods to Prepare Carefully
- Cut raw vegetables into small pieces.
- Slice apples instead of biting directly into them.
- Break crusty bread into smaller pieces.
- Remove corn from the cob before eating.
- Avoid biting directly into very hard foods.
What Should You Do if an Appliance Breaks?
Even careful patients may occasionally experience a loose bracket, broken wire or another appliance issue. Contact our office so our team can determine what type of appointment is needed.
Loose or Broken Bracket
Call our office for guidance. Orthodontic wax may be placed over the bracket to reduce irritation until it can be repaired.
Poking or Protruding Wire
Place orthodontic wax over the irritating area. Contact our office if the problem continues.
Broken Main Archwire
Contact our office to arrange an appropriate appointment when the main archwire breaks.
Broken Small Tie Wire
If a small tie wire comes loose or breaks, contact our office for guidance.
Sports and Travel
Playing Sports
Wear an orthodontic mouthguard during contact sports or activities that may result in injury to the teeth, lips or mouth. Ask our team which style is best suited to your braces.
When You Are Away From Sudbury
When an orthodontic problem occurs while travelling, contact our office first whenever possible. Keep any loose appliance components and bring them to your next appointment.
Need More Orthodontic Supplies?
Visit the Sudbury Orthodontics shopping page for available orthodontic supplies, or contact our office for assistance.