Frequently Asked Question About Caring For Your Braces

When it comes to getting braces, most kids and even adults are daunted by the care they have to take of them. Should they stop eating all hard foods? How do you floss? How often should you brush your teeth? It is important to know that getting braces is a big step on your journey to a healthier more beautiful smile and that taking care of your dental hygiene can be simple when it comes to your braces. If you are looking to get braces to improve your smile, or if you already have braces but are looking to switch orthodontists, please reach out to an office today to see how they can help you have a healthier, more beautiful smile. Below, you will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you determine how to best and most effectively take care of your braces San Clemente, CA chooses.

FAQs

Before coming to my appointment, should I brush my teeth?

This will depend. We do typically recommend that our patients brush their teeth before coming to one of our appointments, but if you have a loose wire or loose bracket you should not brush your teeth. Similarly, when you are getting your brackets put on at your next appointment, you should not brush your teeth because the fluoride in your toothpaste can make it much harder for your brackets to bond to your teeth. When in doubt, skip the brushing and use our tooth brushing station on-site!

I ran out of rubber bands! What do I do?

Call our office as soon as possible if you run out of rubber bands and you can even stop by our office to pick more up.

One of my brackets came off. What should I do?

Call our office immediately so we can figure out if you need to set up an emergency appointment to come in. If you still have the bracket, place it in a Ziploc bag and bring it in with you.

Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed during the time I have braces?

This will depend entirely on the person. As your orthodontic treatment continues to progress, we will evaluate how your wisdom teeth are coming in and determine if we think it is the right call to remove them. We can also refer you to a general dentist for additional confirmation and the final decision.

I heard I have to wear a retainer after I get my braces off. How long do I wear it?

This is another treatment that will depend entirely on the person. There is typically a schedule that your orthodontist will set up to determine how long you need to wear a retainer full time after braces. Depending on how your teeth are improving, you may go down to wearing it part-time. Most orthodontists do recommend wearing them at night time for the rest of your life.

If you have braces and have any further questions on the best ways to take care of them, please reach out to an office now for more information or to set up a consultation.

Thanks to John Redmond Orthodontics for their insight into dentistry and visiting an orthodontist after a mouth injury.