Braces do a lot of quiet work. They straighten your teeth and improve your bite over time. But those brackets and wires also give food and plaque more places to hide. The good news? A simple daily routine keeps your teeth and gums healthy from your first adjustment to the day your braces come off.
At Hart Family Orthodontics, we walk you through every step so caring for your smile feels easy, not overwhelming. Here’s how to keep things clean and comfortable during treatment.
Why Does Oral Hygiene Matter So Much During Braces?
Good oral hygiene protects your teeth from cavities and keeps your gums healthy while you’re in braces. Plaque loves to gather around brackets and wires, and when it sticks around, it can lead to cavities, gum irritation, bad breath and white spots on your enamel.
A little daily effort goes a long way. Clean teeth now mean a bright, healthy smile when your braces come off.
How Do You Brush Your Teeth With Braces?
Brush gently and thoroughly around every bracket, wire and along the gumline. Slow, careful strokes clean far better than fast, hard scrubbing.
Choose the Right Toothbrush
A soft-bristled brush is your best friend, and either a manual or electric one works well. Look for a smaller brush head, since it moves around braces more easily and reaches the tight spots.
Brush Around the Brackets and Wires
Angle your brush up toward the top of each bracket, then down toward the bottom. Clean all sides of every tooth and follow the gumline the whole way around. Take your time and don’t rush the corners.
How Often Should You Brush With Braces?
Brush at least twice a day, and ideally after meals. If you can’t get to a toothbrush, rinse well with water to wash away loose food until you can.
How Do You Floss Properly With Braces?
Flossing clears plaque from between your teeth and below the gumline where a brush can’t reach. Guide the floss gently under the main wire, then slide it between each pair of teeth.
How Often Should You Floss With Braces?
Floss once a day, every day. Our orthodontist can recommend tools that make flossing around wires quicker and less fiddly.
What Are the Best Tools for Cleaning Braces?
A few simple tools make cleaning around braces much easier, especially in those hard-to-reach spots. Here’s what we often suggest:
- Interdental brushes. These tiny brushes slide between brackets and under wires to sweep out trapped food.
- Floss threaders or orthodontic flossers. Both help you guide floss under the wire and between your teeth without a struggle.
- Water flossers. A water flosser rinses debris from around braces and works nicely alongside regular flossing.
- Fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride strengthens your enamel, and our team may suggest a fluoride rinse for a little extra protection.
What Foods Should You Avoid With Braces?
Some foods can bend wires, pop off brackets or get stuck where you can’t clean them. Steering clear of these keeps your treatment on track.
| Food type | Examples | Why to skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Hard foods | Ice, hard candy, popcorn, hard nuts | Can crack brackets or bend wires |
| Sticky and chewy | Caramel, gum, taffy | Cling to braces and pull at brackets |
| Sugary foods and drinks | Soda, candy, sweets | Feed plaque and raise your cavity risk |
Foods like apples, carrots and crusty bread aren’t off-limits. Instead of biting straight in, cut them into small, finger-size pieces first.
What Foods Can You Eat With Braces?
Soft foods are your go-to, especially right after an adjustment when teeth feel tender. Reach for eggs, yogurt, rice, pasta, soups, soft-cooked vegetables, bananas and tender meats. A warm, soft meal often feels great when your teeth need a break.
Which Habits Can Damage Braces?
Everyday habits can undo your progress, so keep your braces away from anything they weren’t built to handle. Skip chewing on ice, pens, pencils and fingernails, and resist the urge to pick at your brackets or wires.
What Should You Do About a Broken Bracket or Loose Wire?
Call us right away if a bracket breaks or a wire comes loose. A small piece of orthodontic wax can ease any poking or irritation in the meantime, so keep some handy. Please don’t try to bend, cut or fix anything yourself, since a quick visit sets it right.
How Often Will You See Your Orthodontist During Treatment?
You’ll come in regularly so our orthodontist can check your progress and make adjustments. At each visit, we see how your teeth are shifting, fine-tune your braces and catch any small issues before they grow. Follow the schedule we set and your treatment stays right on track.
How Do You Keep Your Smile Healthy After Braces?
Your care routine continues once the braces come off. Keep brushing twice a day, floss daily and stick with your regular dental checkups. Most important of all, wear your retainer exactly as directed. That’s what holds your new smile in place for the long haul.
Ready for a Healthier Smile?
Great braces results come down to three things: clean teeth, smart food choices and regular visits with our team. Do those, and you’ll love what you see when treatment wraps up.
Locations We Serve
We proudly provide orthodontic care for patients of all ages in:
- Monticello, MN
- Buffalo, MN
- Albertville, MN
- Rockford, MN
- Cokato, MN
- Maple Lake, MN
- St. Michael, MN
Ready to get started? Schedule your complimentary consultation at our Albertville or Buffalo office today.