Oral Hygiene & Diet
Keep Your Smile Bright
Give your teeth & braces and/or appliances the special care they deserve to keep your teeth & gums healthy & happy throughout your treatment.
You’ll 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 scar on the surface, possibly leading to tooth decay.
Your braces are fragile and are can be damaged when you eat the wrong foods (see below). Remember that the more damage to your braces, the longer it will take to finish your treatment.
Tri-Valley Orthodontics Braces Care PDF
These are the instructions we review with you after placement of your braces and/or appliances. Please print & refer to these instructions.
Oral Hygiene Instructions
One of our favorite tips is to do warm salt water rinses (1 tsp salt/ 1 glass water) 3x per day for the first 5-6 days after you get your braces on. This will toughen up the inside of the lips and cheeks and decrease irritation.
Use the wax in your kit as needed; To use, warm up a small pea size ball of wax between your fingertips, gently dry the area the wax will be applied, and gently press on to apply.
For the first 24 hours, stay on an extra soft diet of soups, yogurt, shakes, mashed potatoes, etc. as the glue takes time to fully set. Do not bite on any solid or hard foods for the first day.
Brush & Floss after each meal. Use a soft bristle toothbrush. Brush in small circular motions at a 45 degree angle towards your gums, and all surfaces of your teeth & braces.
Brush around each bracket and along the gum line to prevent decalcification of teeth which causes permanent white spots/lines on teeth.
It is just as important to floss each night. And use an inter-proximal toothbrush to get into the hard to reach areas.
You can also try a Water-pik to help in cleaning around your new braces & wires, however remember that a Water-pik does not replace flossing.
Remember to continue to see your general dentist for regular cleanings every 4-6 months.
Tri-Valley Orthodontics Food List
Please download & print this PDF. We recommend sticking it right on your fridge as a reminder on those foods we recommend avoiding to ensure your braces & appliances are in optimal shape to ensure optimal results!
Diet
Avoid any hard or crunchy foods: whole nuts, ice, chips or taco shells, bread crusts, bagels, popcorn, corn on the cob, meat on the bone, and whole apples or carrots (please enjoy fruits & veggies after slicing them thinly).
Avoid foods that are overly sweet, sticky, or hard (all candies, sugary gums, dried fruits). Foods that cannot easily be cleaned off of your braces may lead to permanent tooth discoloration, white lesions and/or tooth decay.
Minimize Sugary Foods & No Soda. If sweets are enjoyed, please brush/floss right afterward.
Remember: Sugar + Plaque = Acid –> Swollen Gums + White Spots + Decay
Your braces are fragile and are usually damaged when you eat the wrong foods. The more damage to your braces, the longer it will take to finish your treatment.
Also beware of nail biting and pen or pencil chewing habits – since these can damage or break your braces and wires, leading to increased treatment time.
Questions? We’re happy to help!
Recommended Products
Philips Sonicare Toothbrush
Waterpik Water flosser
Platypus Orthodontic Flossers