HOME CARE

Home Care

Brushing

You will notice that it is harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food compacts in the brackets and between your teeth, and can only be removed by brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it will leave a permanent white or brown scar on the surface. Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule. Use a soft toothbrush with firm pressure and brush with extra attention being paid to the gums. Most retained plaque can be found between the bracket and the gums. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. A Waterpik can be a useful addition but it cannot remove the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth. Sonic toothbrushes can be used but a coordinated patient can be equally effective with manual toothbrushes. Flossing is important and should be done every day.

Eating Habits

Please do not eat hard foods: nuts, pretzels, ice, crisp taco shells and chips, whole apples and carrots (cut them into pieces first), hard French bread crust and rolls, meat on the bone (can be taken off before eating), corn on the cob (cut the corn off the cob before eating), and popcorn! These foods risk breaking brackets and wires. Also beware of nail biting and pen or pencil chewing habits, since these can damage your braces. Do not eat sticky foods: taffy, caramels, gum of any kind, or sticky candy of any sort. Use common sense about most foods.