How to take care of your braces.

Brushing:

Brush with a soft bristle brush.
It is important to brush after every meal. If you cannot brush right away, rinse well with water.
Place bristles where gums and teeth meet.
Use circular motions around the gums, 10 seconds on each tooth.
Brush slowly, each arch separately, every tooth.
Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down.
Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth too!

Flossing:

It is important to floss nightly after brushing to remove plaque your toothbrush misses.
Use a floss threader between gums and braces.
Concentrate on the danger zone: the space between the brackets and the gums.
Carefully pull unwaxed floss between the wire and braces.
Floss carefully around the braces, gum area, and each tooth.

Common Issues:

Loose/Broken Bracket

It’s not atypical to have 1 or 2 loose brackets during orthodontic treatment, if this happens place some wax on the bracket to avoid it rubbing your cheeks.

Pokey Archwire

Clip the broken/pokey wire with fingernail clippers or place a pea-sized amount of wax on the area that’s rubbing your cheek.

Soreness

Take what you would normally take for a headache (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) Soreness from braces peaks 24 hours after the braces and wires are placed, then will get progressively better over time.

Problem Foods:

Avoid the following crunchy foods- Hard candy, chips, popcorn, jerky, ice, nuts, corn on the cob, whole raw fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots.
Avoid the following sticky foods- Bubble gum, caramel and other sticky candy like starburst and taffy.
Avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens and pencils.

How to take care of Invisalign^® Trays.

Wear Time & Storage:

Wear trays for 20–22 hours a day.
Only remove trays when eating or brushing.
Switch to new trays once a week, unless otherwise instructed by your orthodontist.
When not in use, always keep your trays in your Invisalign case.
Always wear your last tray until your orthodontist provides a new set or a retainer.

Lost Trays:

If you lose a tray, please skip to the upcoming week's set. Do not go without trays.
If the tray does not fit, contact your Orthodontist!

Brushing:

Use your toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the trays. For a deeper clean, use the provided cleaning crystals mid-week.

Food & Drinks:

If you must eat while wearing your trays, please rinse them with water afterward.
Be aware that red wine will stain the trays, and sugary drinks (like soda or sports drinks) will coat them. If you consume these while wearing your trays, rinse them with water immediately after.

Taking Care of Your Retainer.

General Best Practices:

Daily Schedule

For the first 3 to 6 months post-treatment, you will typically wear them full-time, removing them only to eat, drink, and brush.

Long-Term Use

After the initial phase, you will transition to nightly wear. To prevent your teeth from shifting, you must wear them every night (or a few nights a week as instructed) indefinitely.

Insertion

Gently push the retainer over your front teeth, then apply pressure to the left and right molars until they snap into place. Never bite your retainers into place, as this can crack or warp them.

Removal

Pull down or up equally on both sides (the back teeth) first, then gently lift off the front teeth.

Cleaning & Maintenance:

Daily Cleaning

Clean your retainers daily by brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and cool water.

Avoid Toothpaste

Do not use abrasive toothpaste, as it can scratch the material, making it cloudy and susceptible to bacteria.

Deep Cleaning

Soak them once a week in Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or products like Retainer Brite to eliminate plaque.

Temperature Warning

Keep your retainers away from excessive heat (e.g., hot water, heaters, car dashboards) to prevent warping.