HOMECARE
Firstly, it is important to have a good level of oral hygiene and a regular oral hygiene regime that you follow before we put the braces on. Having braces on your teeth can make the cleaning a lot trickier! They provide great hiding places for foods to get stuck. We will give you an electric toothbrush and little gadgets (floss and interdental brushes) to help you keep your teeth clean, but it is important to follow proper ways of cleaning your teeth! We will ensure you have got all the right tips to set you for a good life-long habit!
Try to brush after each meal. If you don’t have a toothbrush with you after lunch, have a good rinse with water at least, to flush out as much food as possible.
Use interdental brushes (small ‘bottle’ brushes) to clean underneath the wire and around the brackets where your toothbrush cannot reach.
Plaque, often left on your teeth and gum with inadequate brushing, contains millions of bacteria. These bacteria produce acids, which can dissolve minerals on your teeth, leaving permanent white, opaque marks. The bacteria also can make your gum sore, swollen and bleed, which will make your brushing harder.
Foods and drinks to avoid during orthodontic treatment:
- Eat healthy and sensibly! Have a break in between meals so that your saliva has some time to recover from acid attack, resulting from various foods.
- Avoid any hard, sticky or chewy foods while in braces. Fruits and vegetable such as apples and carrot need to be cut into small pieces.
- Sticky foods such as toffies and lollies can stick around the braces. This will be a favourite hiding spot for plaque!
- Minimise intake of sugary foods and drinks (fizzy drinks, juice and sports drinks) as they can cause tooth decay.
