How To Care
For Your Orthodontic Appliances

Do My Orthodontic Appliances Require Special Care?

Orthodontic appliances can transform your life in more ways than one. But they do require a bit of special care to keep them functioning optimally, and to ensure your smile remains healthy throughout the course of your treatment. 

How To Care For Braces

Because braces use a system of brackets and wires that attach to your teeth, they can make it more challenging to keep your teeth clean. But there are solutions!

Brush your teeth twice daily, (or even after every meal). 
It is important to clean between the teeth as well. We recommend using floss threaders to make it easier to clean those hard-to-reach-places.
Mouthwash can be used to help dislodge food particles for more effective brushing. 
A waterflosser can also be a valuable addition to your at-home hygiene routine. 

As far as taking care of your braces themselves, there are some steps you can take to ensure they don’t become damaged.

Avoid hard, crunchy foods.
Don’t use your teeth as tools.
Wear a mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth at night.

How To Care For Clear Aligners

One of the biggest advantages of choosing clear aligners is how easy it is to maintain your oral hygiene routine during treatment. Because they are removable, you can brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. 

However, it is also important to keep the aligners themselves clean, and to take precautions against damaging them.

Your clear aligners need to be worn for 22 hours per day. 
Remove your aligners every time you eat or drink anything other than cold or room temperature water. 
When removing your aligners, rinse them off with cool or lukewarm water. 
Keep your aligners in their case when they are not being worn. 
Avoid exposing your aligners to hot temperatures, such as leaving them in a hot car or putting them in the dishwasher. Hot temperatures can warp the aligners, causing them to become ineffective or not fit at all.
At least once a day, brush your aligners with a soft bristled toothbrush and a mild hand or dish soap. You can use an aligner or retainer cleaning solution as needed.

How To Care For Retainers

Retainers are removable appliances that keep your teeth in the ideal position after your orthodontic treatment has been completed. Your orthodontist will give you specific instructions on how many hours per day you will need to wear your retainers. Since retainers will need to be worn indefinitely, it is important to keep them safe and sound!

Remove your retainers before eating or drinking anything other than cold or room temperature water to avoid damaging or mishaping them. 
Rinse retainers before putting them back in your mouth.
Always put retainers in their case when they aren’t being worn. 
At least once a day, clean your retainers with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild hand or dish soap. Toothpaste is more abrasive and will scratch your retainers over time.

How To Care For Space Maintainers

Space maintainers can take several different forms, but they all serve the same purpose – to keep teeth from shifting into a space left behind by a missing tooth. These are most common in children who lose a baby tooth prematurely, as the space must be kept open in order for their permanent teeth to properly erupt. Here are some tips for taking care of a child’s space maintainer.

Make sure your child brushes thoroughly at least twice a day.
Your child should avoid sticky, chewy, or overly hard foods. 
Encourage your child to avoid playing with their space maintainer, whether it’s with their fingers or their tongue.
Make sure your little one continues to visit the dentist or orthodontist regularly, either every 6 months or according to their dentist or orthodontist’s recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about taking care of your orthodontic appliances? Find answers here!

What do I do about a broken or loose bracket?
What do I do about poking wires?
What do I do if I damage or misplace my clear aligners?

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