Brackets are designed to be easily removed to prevent damage to the teeth when the treatment is completed. The design makes them fragile, so we urge patients to take care to avoid breakages. If it does happen, it may prolong your treatment and incur additional charges.
Things to avoid with braces:
Chewy and sticky foods such as caramels, chewy candy, gums, tough meats, etc.
Hard foods including raw vegetables, apples, nuts, hard candy and breads, etc.
Crunchy foods such as caramel popcorn, popcorn kernels, seeds, ice, etc.
Biting on hard items including pens, fingernails, etc.
*We always encourage eating healthy so if you want to eat raw vegetables or hard fruit, please cut them into smaller bite size pieces.
Oral hygiene with braces:
People with braces find that food and sugary drinks persist in the mouth much longer than those without them. If food debris trapped around the brackets and wire is not cleaned, it will promote rapid growth in bacterial plaque which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
To avoid these issues, clean your teeth thoroughly after each meal. It is a good idea to always carry a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and dental floss with you. If you cannot clean your teeth after a meal or sugary drink, we recommend vigorously rinsing your mouth with water until you have the chance to brush.
We strongly recommend you continue your six-monthly active maintenance appointments during your orthodontic treatment to maintain excellent oral health.
What to do if a bracket falls off:
If you happen to break a bracket, try to keep hold of it and call us to make an appointment as soon as possible. Leaving it too long to fix may prolong your treatment. We ask that you bring the bracket to your appointment so it can be re-cemented and the wire inserted.
Sports and activities with braces on:
We recommend you wear a protective mouthguard if you play contact sport during your treatment. In the case of an accident involving your face, please immediately check your mouth for any damage to your teeth or braces. If either is damaged, please make an appointment with us as soon as possible.