BRUSHING AND FLOSSING WITH BRACES

Keeping your teeth clean is especially important while wearing braces. Braces create small spaces where food particles and plaque can easily collect around brackets, wires, and along the gumline. Good brushing and flossing habits help prevent cavities, white spots, gum irritation, and bad breath during orthodontic treatment.

BRUSHING WITH BRACES

Brush your teeth after every meal and before bedtime. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Take your time and brush carefully around each bracket, under the wires, and along the gumline.

For best results, brush at different angles:

Brush above the brackets
Brush below the brackets
Brush directly on the brackets
Brush along the gumline
Brush the chewing surfaces and the inside surfaces of the teeth

An electric toothbrush may also be helpful, but gentle and careful brushing is more important than brushing too hard.

FLOSSING WITH BRACES

Flossing may take a little more time with braces, but it is very important. Floss helps clean between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.

You may use:

Floss threaders
Orthodontic floss
Interdental brushes
Water flossers

A floss threader can help guide the floss under the wire so you can clean between each tooth. Water flossers can also be helpful, but they should not completely replace regular flossing unless recommended by your orthodontist.

WHY IT MATTERS

Poor oral hygiene during braces treatment can lead to plaque buildup, tooth decay, swollen gums, and permanent white spots on the teeth. Clean teeth move more efficiently, and healthy gums help support a better orthodontic result.

HELPFUL TIPS

Avoid brushing too quickly
Rinse your mouth with water after snacks
Check your teeth in the mirror after brushing
Replace your toothbrush regularly
Keep a travel toothbrush with you for school or work
Continue regular dental cleanings with your general dentist

OUR RECOMMENDATION

At David P. Choe, DDS, MS Orthodontics, we encourage every patient to make brushing and flossing part of their daily routine. Taking care of your teeth during treatment will help you enjoy a healthier, cleaner, and more beautiful smile when your braces come off.

 

EATING WITH BRACES

 

Eating with braces may feel a little different at first, but most patients adjust quickly. During the first few days, choose soft foods such as soup, pasta, rice, yogurt, eggs, soft bread, and mashed potatoes.

 

To protect your braces, avoid hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy foods. These foods can bend wires, loosen brackets, or delay your treatment.

 

Foods to avoid include hard candy, gum, caramel, popcorn, nuts, ice, hard chips, and biting directly into apples, carrots, or corn on the cob.

 

It is best to cut food into smaller pieces and chew carefully. With good eating habits, you can keep your braces safe and help your treatment stay on schedule.

 

 

FOODS TO AVOID

 

When you have braces, it is important to avoid foods that can damage brackets, bend wires, or slow down your treatment.

 

Please avoid hard, sticky, chewy, and crunchy foods such as gum, caramel, hard candy, popcorn, nuts, ice, hard chips, and very chewy bread.

 

Do not bite directly into hard foods like apples, carrots, or corn on the cob. Instead, cut them into small pieces before eating.

 

Choosing the right foods will help keep your braces safe, reduce emergency visits, and keep your treatment on schedule.

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GENERAL SORENESS

 

It is normal to feel some soreness or tenderness after getting braces or after an adjustment appointment. Your teeth may feel sensitive for a few days as they begin to move.

 

Soft foods are recommended during this time, such as soup, pasta, rice, yogurt, eggs, and mashed potatoes.

 

If needed, you may take over-the-counter pain relief as directed. Rinsing with warm salt water can also help soothe sore gums and cheeks.

 

The discomfort is usually temporary and should improve within a few days as your mouth adjusts to the braces.

 

LOOSENING OF TEETH

 

It is normal for teeth to feel slightly loose during orthodontic treatment. This happens because braces gently move the teeth into their proper positions.

 

As the teeth move, the surrounding bone and gums adjust to support the new alignment. This is a normal part of the treatment process.

 

The looseness is temporary, and the teeth will become stable again after treatment is completed.

 

If a tooth feels extremely loose or if you have unusual pain, please contact our office.

 

 

LOOSE WIRE OR BAND

 

If a wire or band becomes loose, please contact our office so we can check and repair it properly.

 

If a loose wire is causing discomfort, you may gently push it back with a cotton swab or pencil eraser. You can also place orthodontic wax over the area to reduce irritation.

 

Please do not try to cut or remove the wire yourself unless instructed by our office.

 

Keeping your braces in good condition helps your treatment stay comfortable and on schedule.

 

 

RUBBER BAND WEAR

 

Rubber bands help move your teeth and jaws into the correct position. They are an important part of your orthodontic treatment.

 

Please wear your rubber bands exactly as instructed by our office. Wearing them consistently helps your treatment progress properly and stay on schedule.

 

Remove rubber bands when eating or brushing, unless you are told otherwise. Always replace them with new ones after meals and brushing.

 

If you run out of rubber bands or are not sure how to wear them, please contact our office.

 

ATHLETICS

 

You can continue playing sports while wearing braces, but it is important to protect your teeth, lips, cheeks, and braces.

 

We recommend wearing a mouthguard during sports or physical activities, especially for contact sports such as basketball, football, soccer, martial arts, and baseball.

 

A mouthguard helps reduce the risk of injury and protects your braces from damage.

 

If you are hit in the mouth or notice a loose bracket, broken wire, or tooth injury, please contact our office as soon as possible.