A beautiful smile is worth a little work!

Adjusting to your orthodontic appliance goes beyond the physical changes in your mouth—your oral hygiene will also require some adjustment. Properly taking care of your appliance throughout orthodontic treatment is vital for a healthy smile. The instructions below share more about taking care of braces, Invisalign® clear aligners, or your retainer. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please check in with us. Our experienced orthodontic care specialists are here to make sure you get the best results from your treatment.

Your teeth deserve lots of TLC

Excellent oral hygiene with an orthodontic appliance, like braces or Invisalign clear aligners, is essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It’s also critical for successful treatment. The right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss will make it easier to perform the proper ortho dental care. If you need recommendations on these items, please ask! Dietmeier Orthodontics can help guide your braces care regimen, or Invisalign clear aligners care regimen, and help you select the best products for your teeth and appliance.

Brush your teeth three times a day

Brush your teeth three times per day, for three minutes per session. With braces, angle your toothbrush around each bracket and under the wire.

Floss at least once a day

Flossing is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and should be performed once each day.

Rinse twice a day

Rinse with Crest ProRinse mouthwash twice a day—once in the morning and once after dinner.

Use breath mints with xylitol

Use sugar-free breath mints containing xylitol four times per day, after meals, for five to ten minutes.

Brush your teeth three times a day

Brush your teeth three times per day, for three minutes per session. With braces, angle your toothbrush around each bracket and under the wire.

Floss at least once a day

Flossing is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and should be performed once each day.

Rinse twice a day

Rinse with Crest ProRinse mouthwash twice a day—once in the morning and once after dinner.

Use breath mints with xylitol

Use sugar-free breath mints containing xylitol four times per day, after meals, for five to ten minutes.

Salt for soreness

At first, your teeth and mouth may feel a bit tender or sore. This is temporary – and perfectly normal. You can help relieve oral tissue discomfort by dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle. Swish and gargle. Swish and gargle. This will help promote the healing of your mouth! But don’t swallow the salt water (trust us, you won’t like it). If the pain still doesn’t go away after rinsing, you can take a pain reliever. When you’re new to braces, your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated. This will quickly pass, but if needed, we can give you some wax to temporarily put over your braces and give your mouth a break.

More issues and solutions

The hard truth: softer foods are better now

Modern technology means sturdier braces, but you still need to be careful and avoid foods that could damage your orthodontic appliance. Softer foods are recommended (mmm, mac & cheese…), especially after an appointment when your mouth may be sore. When in doubt, take it slow or avoid it altogether.

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Avoid hard or sticky foods

Sticky foods can get wrapped around your appliances and cause them to break or come loose. Hard foods can break your braces and damage your appliances.

Avoid high-sugar and high-acidity drinks

High-sugar and high-acidity drinks, when mixed with saliva, create plaque—a sticky film that coats the teeth and is difficult to remove completely, even with brushing.

Cut food into smaller pieces

Some foods are fine to enjoy, as long as they’re cut into smaller pieces which won’t damage your braces or appliance. Examples include bagels, carrots, and apples.

Enjoy soft, braces-friendly foods

Your favorite soft foods and drinks are perfectly safe with braces or appliances.

Avoid hard or sticky foods

Sticky foods can get wrapped around your appliances and cause them to break or come loose. Hard foods can break your braces and damage your appliances.

Avoid high-sugar and high-acidity drinks

High-sugar and high-acidity drinks, when mixed with saliva, create plaque—a sticky film that coats the teeth and is difficult to remove completely, even with brushing.

Cut food into smaller pieces

Some foods are fine to enjoy, as long as they’re cut into smaller pieces which won’t damage your braces or appliance. Examples include bagels, carrots, and apples.

Enjoy soft, braces-friendly foods

Your favorite soft foods and drinks are perfectly safe with braces or appliances.

Clear aligners need care, too

Sure, your Invisalign clear aligners can easily come on and off, and people enjoy that flexibility when eating and drinking. But with great power comes great responsibility, which means you must keep track of them and clean them frequently.

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Clean your aligners regularly

Gently clean your aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste or Retainer Brite®cleaner tablets 1-2 times daily.

Disinfect your aligners every day

You may use EverSmile® WhiteFoam or Steraligner daily to help keep your aligners fresh, whiten teeth, and help with dry mouth.

Keep your aligners safe

Keep your aligners away from pets, boiling water, bleach, denture cleaner, and any other cleaning products. Avoid placing your aligners in a napkin while eating to avoid accidentally throwing them away!

Apply and remove your aligners carefully

When you put your aligners in, make sure they’re securely in place. When removing them, loosen your aligners in several places, and then gently dislodge them.

Clean your aligners regularly

Gently clean your aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste or Retainer Brite®cleaner tablets 1-2 times daily.

Disinfect your aligners every day

You may use EverSmile® WhiteFoam or Steraligner daily to help keep your aligners fresh, whiten teeth, and help with dry mouth.

Keep your aligners safe

Keep your aligners away from pets, boiling water, bleach, denture cleaner, and any other cleaning products. Avoid placing your aligners in a napkin while eating to avoid accidentally throwing them away!

Apply and remove your aligners carefully

When you put your aligners in, make sure they’re securely in place. When removing them, loosen your aligners in several places, and then gently dislodge them.

Retainers do just that—retain your new smile

The Dietmeier team will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and explain how long you’ll need to wear it. Your retainer will only work if it’s used as recommended by your orthodontist.

Download packet

Clean your retainer regularly

Carefully scrub the retainer with a toothbrush and water at least once a day. Avoid brushing with toothpaste as it can be abrasive and scratch your retainer.

Apply and remove your retainer carefully

When you put your retainer in, make sure it’s securely in place. When removing it, loosen your retainer in several places, and then gently dislodge it.

Keep your retainer safe

Protect your retainer from heat and pets. Avoid placing your retainer in a napkin while eating to avoid accidentally throwing it away!

Replace your retainer when necessary

Even a well-made retainer will eventually wear out. If your retainer has deteriorated, or it feels different than it did when new, contact your Dietmeier orthodontist.

Clean your retainer regularly

Carefully scrub the retainer with a toothbrush and water at least once a day. Avoid brushing with toothpaste as it can be abrasive and scratch your retainer.

Apply and remove your retainer carefully

When you put your retainer in, make sure it’s securely in place. When removing it, loosen your retainer in several places, and then gently dislodge it.

Keep your retainer safe

Protect your retainer from heat and pets. Avoid placing your retainer in a napkin while eating to avoid accidentally throwing it away!

Replace your retainer when necessary

Even a well-made retainer will eventually wear out. If your retainer has deteriorated, or it feels different than it did when new, contact your Dietmeier orthodontist.

Schedule your free consultation today!

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