Caring For Braces
Brushing and Flossing
Maintaining good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing is crucial during orthodontic treatment to promote healthy teeth and gums. Failure to keep teeth clean can result in the need for more frequent visits to the dentist for professional cleaning. Adults with a history of gum disease should also seek the services of a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
To learn more about the proper care of braces during orthodontic treatment, kindly watch the videos on this page.
Eating with Braces
During the first day or so in new orthodontic appliances, it is best to stick to soft foods and avoid tough meats, hard bread, and raw vegetables. While you’ll eventually be able to enjoy these foods again, it is important to continue protecting your orthodontic appliances whenever you eat for the duration of your time in treatment.
Foods To Avoid
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice,
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Chewing on other hard things (like pens, pencils, or fingernails) can damage appliances and result in prolonged treatment.