It is best to stay away from crunchy or sticky foods that may risk breakage or damage of the appliance. Cut hard foods into smaller bite-sized pieces. Always brush your teeth after eating sugary foods to prevent cavities.
Read more about what you can eat with braces from Crest + Oral B here.
With braces, it is extremely important to develop a good brushing and flossing routine. It is normal for this process to be a little more time consuming and requires patience and determination — you can do it!
Food particles tend to get stuck around the braces and create an environment that will increase the growth of bacteria. This may eventually cause a softening of the outer hard enamel surface of the tooth. This may begin as a white discoloration and progress into an actual cavitation in the tooth.
Don’t worry, we will show you how to properly brush and floss while at your visit with us in the office. In the meantime, use these step-by-step brushing and flossing guides below.
Step 1
Start with the outside of the teeth, with the brush at a straight angle. Use circular, vibrating motions.
Step 2
Clean the area between the gums and braces by angling the brush down (up for the lower jaw). Keep moving in a small circular motion.
Step 3
Clean the rest of the outside of the teeth by angling the brush up, (down for the lower jaw).
Step 4
Carefully brush the chewing surface of both the upper and lower jaw.
Step 5
Finish by brushing the inside of the teeth, then rinse.
Step 1
Floss at least once a day. The floss needs to be pulled under the archwire. A floss threader facilitates this. Start by pulling floss through the threader.
Step 2
Push the end of the floss threader under the archwire and pull the floss through.
Step 3
Once the floss is in place, gently remove the threader from the floss strand.
Step 4
Pull the floss up between the teeth and gently move it up and down the side of both teeth. Remember to move it all the way under the gums.
Step 5
Pull the floss out and use a different section of it for the next tooth. You can reuse the threader, but be sure to rinse it off between uses.
