How to Take Care of Your Smile During Orthodontic Treatment

Avoid overly sticky, crunchy, or hard foods that can damage your braces. For instance, cut apples into bite-sized pieces rather than biting into them whole, and opt for ground meat instead of tougher cuts.

After each meal, make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly and use a floss threader to clean between teeth and an interproximal brush to clean behind the wires. This will help keep your braces and teeth clean and prevent cavities. It might take a little practice, but you’ll get the hang of it in no time!

Remove your Invisalign aligners before eating or drinking anything besides water, and brush your teeth before putting them back in. To keep your smile healthy and your aligners clear, gently brush your aligners daily and soak them in a denture cleaner for a deep clean as needed.

Wear your aligners for 22 hours a day to avoid treatment delays, and keep your Invisalign case handy to keep your aligners safe when they’re out of your mouth.

Orthodontic appliances, like separators or expanders, might be used before getting braces for kids or during braces treatment at any age. It’s important to wear your appliance as instructed to avoid discomfort and treatment delays. If your appliance is removable, remember to brush it gently twice a day to prevent cavities.

Take your retainers out before eating or drinking anything besides water, and always brush your teeth before putting them back in. Remember to gently brush your retainers, too, and keep them in a case when they aren’t in your mouth. You can use denture cleaner for a deeper clean as needed. For permanent retainers, be sure to use a floss threader to get between your teeth.

Soft foods are gentle on your teeth, making them the best choice for what to eat while you’re getting used to braces. Some of the best soft foods for braces include pasta with ground meat, steamed veggies, and mashed potatoes. Cold can help reduce inflammation and swelling, so braces are a great excuse to indulge in your favorite frozen treats, like smooth ice cream or popsicles!

Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help reduce gum inflammation. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of table salt in one cup of warm water. Swish the mixture in your mouth for about 60 seconds, then spit it out. For best results, try this remedy twice daily after brushing your teeth until the pain subsides.

Peppermint has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve braces pain. Consider brewing a cup of peppermint tea and applying the used tea bag to the sore area for about 5-10 minutes while it’s still warm. Just be sure to let the tea bag cool a bit first to avoid any burns!

Giving your gums a gentle massage can help relieve soreness from braces. Start with clean hands and use your fingers to gently massage your gums in a circular motion. You can also try sucking on an ice cube beforehand to help reduce swelling, but remember not to chew the ice as it could damage your braces.

When all else fails, over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can alleviate pain and swelling caused by braces. If you frequently experience discomfort following adjustment appointments, taking a pain reliever about an hour beforehand can provide some relief.

A poking wire from braces is usually caused by the archwire moving as your teeth shift into place. Dry the irritated area, roll a small piece of orthodontic wax between your clean fingers, and gently press it to the poking wire. For mouth sores, consider using an oral anesthetic like Orajel for relief.

You can trim long wires at home with a disinfected nail clipper. Wash your hands, then gently pull your cheek away to clip the wire. Use a Q-tip to remove any pieces from your mouth and apply orthodontic wax to secure it. Please text or call us so we can help you determine if you should come in for a visit.

If your wire has come out of the bracket, first check to see if the wire is still aligned with the bracket. If it is, you can gently reposition the wire back in place using disinfected tweezers. However, if the wire is above or below the bracket, you’ll need to visit our office so we can help. In either case, please call or text us so we can help assess the situation and prevent treatment delays.

If a braces bracket falls off, please call or text us as soon as possible. Depending on its location and your treatment stage, you might need to visit our office so we can reattach it. If the bracket is loose but still attached, use orthodontic wax to secure it and let us know.

Invisalign aligners are designed for comfort, but you may occasionally feel gum irritation if an edge is too rough or sharp. To fix your Invisalign aligner at home, use a clean nail file to gently smooth the rough edge until it’s no longer bothering you. If you prefer our team to handle it, just give us a call to schedule a visit!

If your Invisalign attachment comes off, don’t panic! Continue wearing your aligners as prescribed, and call or text us so we can assess the situation. Invisalign still works if an attachment comes off, but depending on your treatment plan and stage, it could be less effective.

If your Invisalign aligners get damaged, please call us right away so we can determine if you need to come in for a visit. In the meantime, if you’ve just moved up a level and your teeth haven’t fully adjusted yet, wear your previous set of aligners. If the next set feels comfortable, go ahead and wear those instead.

Hydrogen peroxide is a great way to remove stains from Invisalign aligners. Simply mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide with lukewarm water and let your stained aligners soak for about 20 minutes. After soaking, rinse them thoroughly under running water before putting them back in. They’ll be bright and fresh once again!

If your retainer isn’t fitting properly, start by identifying the issue. If it’s damaged, skip ahead to the next question for solutions. If it feels snug because you haven’t been wearing it as instructed, but it fits without forcing, wear it full-time until it feels comfortable. If it no longer fits at all, please call us so we can order you a replacement or schedule a visit if needed.

If your permanent retainer breaks, wear your removable retainer full-time until you can get a new one. If your removable retainer is damaged but still fits, keep using it to help prevent shifting while you wait for your new one. If it’s broken or lost and you don’t have a backup, you may need an office visit. For any issues with your retainers, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

If your orthodontic appliance feels too tight or loose, let us know! You can check a few things at home first. Try wearing it as directed to see if the fit improves. If you still have concerns, we’re here to help with some at-home tips or to schedule an appointment. Your comfort is our priority!

If your orthodontic appliance is lost or broken, your teeth may be at risk of significant shifting. If the appliance is broken but still fits comfortably, continue to wear it as instructed. Please reach out to us as soon as possible so our team can evaluate the situation and schedule an office visit.