Looking after your braces

Name: Links Orthodontics
Telephone: 0161 720 7612

You will need to look after your appliance during orthodontic treatment to ensure it is as effective as possible. Luckily, we have all the tips to help you through your treatment with removable or fixed braces.

Caring for removable appliances

It’s important to handle your removable appliances with care to ensure they function properly. When fitting the appliance into your mouth, you must make sure that the springs are placed in the correct positions before fully fitting it in place.

Here are our tips for taking care of your removable appliance.

How often should I wear my removable appliance?

Unless otherwise instructed, your removable appliance should be worn at all times – including for eating. In most cases, eating with the appliance in place is of particular importance with regard to treatment success.

When you are wearing your brace do not play with it in your mouth (such as clicking it up and down). This can break your brace.

How do I remove my brace?

When removing your brace, always use the clips at the back. This will help prevent damage to the delicate wires that move your teeth.

We recommend removing your brace after each meal and cleaning your teeth. You will need to clean your brace with a toothbrush and cold water to remove any food debris before placing it back in your mouth.

Caring for fixed braces

It is important to care for your braces properly to keep your treatment on track and your teeth healthy during treatment. Here are our tips for proper brace care with fixed braces.

How do I clean my fixed braces?

Fixed appliances should be cleaned by regular brushing around and between the brackets at least three times a day, especially after meals. Failure to keep the appliances clean can lead to decay or permanent staining of the teeth.

We recommend the use of an interspace brush in addition to your normal toothbrush. Particular attention should be paid to the areas between the gums and the brackets, and a fluoride mouth rinse is recommended on a regular basis.

Do I need to change my diet with braces?

You can still enjoy most of your favourite foods during treatment, but there will need to be some slight changes. Sticky foods, chewing gum and other especially chewy or hard foods should be avoided.

In addition, you should cut crusty sandwiches, pizza and fibrous fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces instead of biting directly into them.

Lastly, it’s important to avoid fizzy and sugary drinks that can damage your teeth around your appliance. If you must, please drink through a straw. This helps keep the acids away from your teeth!

What should I do if my brace breaks?

If a bracket comes loose or breaks, it's important to schedule an appointment to see us as soon as possible so that the length of treatment doesn’t increase. We can help to schedule you in for an emergency appointment to repair your brace as needed.