Caring for your braces

Name: Orchard Orthodontics
Telephone: 020 3973 9335

Looking after your braces is essential to achieving the best possible results. Read on to discover how to maintain good oral hygiene, make smart food choices and keep your treatment on track for a healthy smile.

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Cleaning your teeth with braces

Careful and consistent cleaning is vital when wearing a fixed brace. Poor cleaning can lead to permanent marks on the teeth, tooth decay and swollen gums. To maintain your oral hygiene, we recommend:

Brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, and ideally after meals
Brushing for 3-4 minutes to ensure a thorough clean
Using a good-quality toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles
Replacing your toothbrush regularly
Cleaning all surfaces of the teeth, including over and around the braces
Paying particular attention to the gumline, as this is where plaque and food debris tend to collect
Using a fluoride mouthwash can help strengthen tooth enamel and protect against decay
Continuing to see your general dentist for regular professional cleanings

Watch our helpful video on how to care for your braces:

Eating and drinking with braces

You can still enjoy most foods with braces, but some care is needed to avoid damaging your appliance. We encourage you to limit eating:

Very sticky foods, such as toffees and chewing gum
Very hard foods such as nuts, crusty bread and hard pizza crusts
Biting directly into hard foods
Hard fruits like apples should be cut into small pieces before eating.

To protect the health of your teeth, try to avoid frequent sugary snacks and drinks between meals, such as chocolate and fizzy drinks.

What should I do if my brace breaks?

Repeated breakages can delay your treatment, so it’s important to take care of your brace. If a bracket, wire or band becomes loose or breaks:

Please contact the practice to arrange a repair appointment (keep in mind that appointments are subject to availability)
Bring the broken part with you to your appointment, if possible

Please keep in mind that repeated breakages due to carelessness could result in NHS treatment being terminated.

How often will
I need appointments?

You’ll need to visit our practice for regular appointments so we can adjust your brace and monitor progress. Appointments are typically every 6 weeks and last for around 15 minutes, although this may vary depending on the stage of your treatment.

Cancelling or changing appointments

If you need to change an appointment, please give at least 24 hours' notice. While we do our best to offer flexible appointment times, availability can be limited, and the majority of appointments take place during school hours.

While we always aim to avoid this, there may occasionally be a need to change an appointment due to unforeseen circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.

Brace care informational leaflet

We have compiled this information into a handy leaflet for your convenience. You can download and print this brace care sheet for easy reference during treatment.

Brace Care Sheet

The right care makes all the difference

Together, we can protect and transform your smile. Book a free consultation with the team at Orchard Orthododontics to learn more about how to get the most out of your orthodontic treatment.

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