How do you look after your teeth with braces?
Looking after your teeth with fixed braces comes down to four habits: brush around the brackets and wires after meals, clean between your teeth every day, be careful with hard, sticky and chewy foods, and keep seeing your dental team for check-ups alongside your orthodontic visits. Brackets and wires create extra places for food and plaque to sit.
Fixed braces are an orthodontic appliance made of small brackets bonded to the teeth and joined by a wire, which applies pressure to move the teeth over time (healthdirect). Unlike clear aligners, you can’t take them out to eat or clean. Better Health Channel explains that braces make cleaning harder, which raises the chance of gum disease, tooth decay and stains (Better Health Channel).
At AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake, we see people with braces for regular check-ups and cleans, working alongside the dentist or orthodontist who manages their braces.
How should you brush around brackets and wires?
The Australian Dental Association recommends brushing after every meal while you have braces, because food can get stuck around the brackets, and notes that both manual and electric toothbrushes can be used (teeth.org.au). Its brushing steps for braces include:
- removing any rubber bands or removable parts first, and rinsing them before they go back in
- using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste
- starting at the gum line, with the brush held at a 45-degree angle to the gums
- angling the bristles down to clean the top of each bracket, then up to clean along the bottom
- spitting out the extra toothpaste afterwards rather than rinsing with water, so the fluoride stays on the teeth longer
In practice, it helps to work around the mouth in the same order each time so no section gets missed. Take your time on the back teeth and on the gum line above and below the wire, where plaque tends to build up. A small mirror can help you check whether each bracket looks clean.
Better Health Channel also mentions that there are special orthodontic toothbrushes, and that your dental practitioner can show you how to use them (Better Health Channel). For the everyday basics of brushing, see our post on how to brush your teeth properly.
How do you clean between your teeth with braces?
String floss can be tricky with braces, so the Australian Dental Association suggests floss threaders or interdental brushes as other options, and notes that interdental brushes can clean between the teeth as well as between the brackets (teeth.org.au).
A floss threader is a flexible loop that pulls ordinary floss under the wire so you can then clean between two teeth in the usual way. It takes a little practice at first. An interdental brush is a small bristled brush that fits into the gaps around brackets and wires; the right size varies from gap to gap, so ask your dental team which sizes suit your mouth.
For more detail, see our posts on how to floss properly and when interdental brushes help.
Which foods should you be careful with?
Better Health Channel advises avoiding sticky or hard foods during orthodontic treatment, such as chewing gum, lollies and crusty bread, because they can get stuck on braces and cause damage. It also advises avoiding high-sugar foods and drinks, including fruit juice, and limiting snacking during treatment (Better Health Channel).
Some everyday ways to cut back on the risk of a loose bracket or bent wire:
- Cut crunchy foods such as apples or raw carrots into smaller pieces rather than biting into them with your front teeth.
- Be careful with chewy foods like toffee, caramels and some muesli bars, which can pull at brackets.
- Try not to chew ice, pens or fingernails.
- Choose water between meals, and keep sweet drinks to mealtimes.
Ask the practitioner managing your braces whether there are other foods to watch with your particular appliance.
Why do teeth feel sore after fitting or adjustments?
Feeling sore or achy for a short time is a common part of having braces. Healthdirect notes you may be uncomfortable for a couple of days after your braces are fitted or adjusted, and lists pain relief medicines, ice-cold water and ulcer wax as ways to ease the discomfort (healthdirect). Follow the directions on any medicine label, or ask a pharmacist what suits you.
Brackets and wires can also rub. Healthdirect lists scratches and mouth ulcers from the braces rubbing as one of the risks of braces, and Better Health Channel notes that sharp areas can be covered with orthodontic wax (healthdirect; Better Health Channel). Softer foods for the first few days after an adjustment can help too.
Contact the dentist or orthodontist managing your braces if a wire is poking into your cheek, a bracket comes loose, or soreness is severe or keeps getting worse. Don’t try to bend or cut a wire yourself. If a mouth ulcer hasn’t healed after a couple of weeks, see our post on mouth ulcers and when to see a dentist.
Why keep regular dental check-ups during orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic visits focus on adjusting the braces, while a dental check-up and clean looks at the health of your teeth and gums. Healthdirect advises keeping your regular dental appointments while you wear braces, and notes that your dentist and orthodontist work as a team and share information about your treatment (healthdirect).
Healthdirect lists tooth decay or discolouration due to poor dental hygiene, and gum infection, among the possible risks of braces (healthdirect). A professional clean can reach around brackets where plaque has hardened, and a check-up is a good time to ask about your cleaning routine. If you notice chalky marks near your brackets, see our post on white spots on teeth and mention it at your next visit.
When your braces come off, a retainer usually helps hold your teeth in their new positions. See our guide to looking after orthodontic retainers. If you wear removable trays instead of fixed braces, see looking after clear aligners.
Check-ups and cleans with braces at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake
AMK Dental Clinic at Shop 3, 46 Tennyson Road, Mortlake NSW 2137, sees people with braces for regular check-ups and cleans, alongside the dentist or orthodontist who manages their orthodontic care. We serve Mortlake and nearby suburbs including Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Concord, Rhodes and North Strathfield.
To book, phone (02) 9739 6525 or book online. It helps to tell us at booking that you have braces, and to bring any care instructions from your orthodontic provider. See how to book an appointment at AMK for more on what to expect.
General information only. Ask your own dental team what suits your mouth and your appliance.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Please speak with a dentist about your needs.
Common questions
How often should I brush my teeth with braces?
The Australian Dental Association recommends brushing after every meal while you wear braces, because food can get stuck around the brackets. Better Health Channel advises cleaning thoroughly at least twice a day, ideally after every meal, with a fluoride toothpaste. If you can't brush after lunch, rinsing with water and brushing properly when you get home still helps. Ask the team at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake if you'd like your routine checked.
Can I still floss with braces?
Yes. String floss can be tricky with braces, so the Australian Dental Association suggests floss threaders or interdental brushes as other options. A floss threader guides the floss under the wire, and an interdental brush can clean between the teeth and between the brackets. Ask your dental team which size of brush fits your spaces. For the basic technique, see our posts on how to floss properly and on interdental brushes.
Is it normal for my teeth to feel sore after braces are fitted or adjusted?
Some discomfort is common. Healthdirect notes you may be uncomfortable for a couple of days after braces are fitted or adjusted, and lists pain relief medicines, ice-cold water and ulcer wax as ways to ease it. Follow the label on any medicine or ask a pharmacist. Contact the practitioner managing your braces if soreness is severe, keeps building, or a wire is digging in.
What should I do if a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes my cheek?
Contact the dentist or orthodontist managing your braces, who can tell you whether it needs a visit. Better Health Channel notes that sharp areas can be covered with orthodontic wax to help protect your cheeks, lips and tongue in the meantime. Keep any loose piece and bring it with you. Don't try to bend or cut a wire yourself.
Do I still need regular dental check-ups while I have braces?
Yes. Healthdirect advises keeping your regular dental appointments while you wear braces, and notes that your dentist and orthodontist work as a team. Orthodontic visits focus on adjusting the braces, while a check-up and clean looks at your teeth and gums more broadly. AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake sees people with braces for check-ups and cleans. Phone (02) 9739 6525 or book online.
