Key Takeaways
- Daily cleaning and maintenance are essential for both braces and aligners
- Proper food choices help prevent damage to orthodontic appliances
- Regular dental check-ups complement your at-home care routine
- Different cleaning methods apply to traditional braces versus removable aligners
- Following care instructions reduces treatment time and improves outcomes
Understanding Your Orthodontic Journey
When you begin orthodontic treatment, whether with traditional braces or clear aligners, you’re making an investment in your long-term dental health. At PureSmile, we see patients achieve their best results when they understand how to properly care for their orthodontic appliances. Proper maintenance not only protects your investment but also ensures your treatment progresses efficiently.
Both braces and aligners require specific care routines. Traditional braces, with their brackets and wires, collect food particles in places your toothbrush might miss. Meanwhile, aligners need regular cleaning to prevent bacteria buildup and staining. Let’s explore how you can best care for each type of orthodontic treatment.
Daily Cleaning Routines for Braces
Essential Cleaning Tools
When wearing braces, your oral hygiene toolkit should include:
- Soft-bristled toothbrush or orthodontic brush
- Interdental brushes for cleaning between brackets
- Floss and floss threaders
- Water flosser (optional but highly effective)
- Fluoride toothpaste
- Antiseptic mouthwash
Regular brushing becomes even more important with braces. You should brush after every meal—not just morning and night. Food particles easily become trapped in brackets and wires, creating perfect conditions for plaque buildup.
Start by rinsing with water to loosen food debris. Brush at a 45-degree angle above and below each bracket. Pay special attention to the area where your gums meet your teeth, as this is where inflammation often begins. An interdental brush helps clean those hard-to-reach spots between brackets.
Flossing with braces requires extra steps but remains crucial. Use a floss threader to guide the floss under the wire, then floss normally between teeth. While this process takes longer, skipping this step leaves nearly 40% of your tooth surfaces uncleaned.
Water flossers offer a convenient alternative that many PureSmile patients find easier to maintain as a daily habit. These devices use a pressurized stream of water to remove food particles from around brackets and between teeth.
Caring for Clear Aligners
Cleaning Essentials for Aligners
Your aligner care kit should include:
- Soft toothbrush dedicated to cleaning aligners
- Clear, unscented antibacterial soap
- Denture cleaning tablets or specialized aligner cleaning crystals
- Protective case
- Fresh water for rinsing
Unlike braces, aligners are removable, which makes cleaning your teeth easier but adds the responsibility of properly cleaning the aligners themselves. Develop a routine of cleaning your aligners every time you remove them.
Rinse aligners immediately after removal to prevent saliva from drying on them. This simple habit prevents that cloudy film from developing. When cleaning aligners, use lukewarm (never hot) water, as high temperatures can warp the plastic.
Clean aligners with a soft toothbrush and mild, clear soap. Avoid colored or scented soaps that might discolor or leave residue on your aligners. Toothpaste is actually too abrasive for aligners and can create tiny scratches where bacteria hide and odors develop.
For deeper cleaning, use specialized aligner cleaning solutions or denture tablets once daily. These help eliminate bacteria that regular cleaning might miss. Always store aligners in their protective case when not in your mouth—never wrap them in a napkin (the fastest way to accidentally throw them away!).
Food Choices and Restrictions
Foods to Avoid with Braces
With traditional braces, you’ll need to avoid foods that could damage brackets or wires:
- Hard foods like nuts, ice, and hard candies
- Sticky foods like caramel, taffy, and gum
- Chewy foods like bagels and tough meats
- Foods you bite into like corn on the cob and whole apples
These restrictions exist because repairs to damaged braces extend your treatment time and add unnecessary visits to your orthodontist. At PureSmile, we recommend cutting foods into smaller pieces whenever possible. For example, slice apples and cut corn off the cob to enjoy these nutritious foods safely.
Food Considerations with Aligners
While aligners offer more dietary freedom since you remove them to eat, you still need to be mindful about:
- Always removing aligners before eating anything
- Brushing teeth before reinserting aligners
- Avoiding drinks other than water while wearing aligners
- Being aware of the total time aligners are removed
Colored beverages like coffee, tea, wine, and soda can stain aligners if consumed while wearing them. Even clear beverages like seltzer can contain acids that become trapped between your aligners and teeth, increasing cavity risk.
Keep track of how long your aligners are out. Most treatment plans require 20-22 hours of daily wear. Extended periods without aligners can significantly slow your treatment progress.
Managing Discomfort and Emergencies
New braces or aligners typically cause temporary discomfort as your teeth begin to move. This sensation usually subsides within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers and dental wax can help manage initial soreness and irritation.
With braces, true emergencies are rare but include:
- Broken brackets or wires
- Wires poking into cheeks or gums
- Severe pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers
If a wire breaks or pokes your cheek, cover the sharp end with dental wax and contact your orthodontist. Never cut wires yourself, as you might accidentally swallow or inhale the clipped piece.
For aligner wearers, emergencies usually involve lost or damaged aligners. If you lose an aligner, contact your provider immediately. Depending on your treatment progress, they may advise wearing your previous set or moving to the next set while replacements are made.
Professional Care and Check-ups
Regular check-ups complement your at-home care. During these appointments, your PureSmile orthodontist will:
- Check that treatment is progressing as planned
- Make necessary adjustments to braces
- Address any concerns or discomfort
- Provide professional cleaning around brackets
- Answer questions about your care routine
For braces, appointments typically occur every 4-8 weeks. Aligner check-ups may be less frequent but remain essential to monitor progress. Never skip these appointments, as small issues caught early prevent larger problems later.
Long-term Benefits of Proper Care
Following proper care instructions does more than maintain your appliances—it protects your dental health during treatment. Proper cleaning prevents:
- White spot lesions (permanent marks on teeth)
- Gum inflammation and disease
- Cavities developing around brackets
- Stained or damaged aligners
- Extended treatment time
Your commitment to care directly impacts your results. Patients who follow care instructions typically complete treatment on schedule and achieve better outcomes.
FAQ About Braces and Aligners Care
Q: Can I use regular toothpaste to clean my aligners? A: No, toothpaste is too abrasive for aligners and can create microscopic scratches that harbor bacteria. Use mild soap and water instead.
Q: How often should I replace my toothbrush with braces? A: Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months, or sooner if bristles show wear. Braces can cause brushes to wear down faster than normal.
Q: What should I do if I forget my aligner case when eating out? A: Rinse your aligners and place them on a clean napkin. Never wrap them completely in a napkin or tissue, as they’re likely to be thrown away accidentally.
Q: Is it normal for aligners to become cloudy over time? A: Some cloudiness is normal with wear, but excessive cloudiness usually indicates improper cleaning. Try using denture tablets or specialized cleaner to remove buildup.
Q: Can I chew gum with aligners? A: No, remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. Gum will stick to aligners and may damage them.
Caring for your braces or aligners properly is an investment in your smile’s future. These temporary appliances require dedication to maintenance, but the habits you develop now—thorough cleaning, mindful eating, and regular professional care—benefit your dental health for life.
At PureSmile, we partner with you throughout your orthodontic journey. Your commitment to following these care guidelines ensures the most efficient treatment and best possible outcome. Remember that consistent daily care makes the biggest difference in your treatment success.
By integrating these practices into your routine, you’re not just caring for your braces or aligners—you’re laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
