Congratulations on starting your orthodontic journey with us at My Dental Team. We are so excited to be on this journey with you!
You’re probably wondering: how do I look after my new braces? Well, we’re here to help! Read on
to learn tips and tricks on how to look after them. And of course, if you ever need to reach out,
please feel free to give us a call.
Keeping by teeth and braces clean
When you have braces on, it’s super important to brush at least twice a day: every morning and
every night. Sometimes brushing around the braces can be a bit challenging. It’s all about angling
your toothbrush to ensure that you are cleaning all around the brackets. Please refer to images to
see how you would hold your tooth brush to clean above the braces, on top of the braces and below
the braces.
Want to see if you’ve missed any plaque? You can try out the disclosing purple or pink disclosing
tablets in your braces care pack. Chew one up and swish it all around your mouth. Spit out all the
dye and do a gentle rinse out with water. Any areas where you’ve missed brushing will turn bright
pink. These coloured areas are where you need to focus on cleaning more thoroughly.
Although it’s tricky to use regular floss to clean in between your teeth, we highly recommend that
you use interdental brushes while you have braces on. These are also great for removing stubborn
dinner leftovers from around your braces and under the wires too. A common brand for this is
Piksters which you can find at your local Coles, Woolworths or Pharmacy. Most of our patients
prefer size 00 between the teeth, and sizes 5 or 6 to clean between the metal brackets/buttons
underneath the wire. If you’re unsure, we can show you which sizes will best suit you at your next
appointment.
While you have braces on, it’s important that you keep up your 6 monthly check up and clean
appointments. This allows your dentist to help you maintain your oral hygiene and also monitor your
teeth and gum health.
My Braces are on! What now?
After the first week of having braces, most patients return to eating normally with a few exceptions.
There are some things you will need to be careful with while you have braces on.
During the first few days of having braces, it is very normal for your teeth to feel quite tender
especially while eating and chewing. We sometimes describe the pressure as a ‘tooth headache’. During this time, stick to a soft food diet as the pressure is triggered most often by eating.
Soft food ideas:
- Yoghurt and chia puding
- Soups and broths
- Well roasted veggies such as pumpkin
- Porridge
- Scrambled eggs
- Pasta
While you have your braces on, it is also important to be eating ‘braces friendly’ foods. Eating hard,
sticky, or very crunchy foods can break your braces. It is important to remember: if the brace is no
longer attached to the tooth, that tooth will not be moving.
Some foods to avoid during braces treatment:
● Biting into an apple or raw carrot (cut them into slices)
● Chewy or hard candies
● Toffee and other very sticky treats
● Crunchy nuts
● Hard cookies
● Chewing on ice cubes
All repairs are covered in your orthodontic treatment plan. It is important that if anything breaks or
feels loose, please contact us to book in for an appointment to have the breakage repaired.
Sometimes, certain repairs are not immediately required but it’s always best to reach out to find
what is the best plan for you. This will keep your teeth moving to plan and prevent any delays in
your treatment. We’re here too help!