Your Complete Care Guide for Braces

Adjusting to braces is a change with its own challenges that can initially seem daunting. Dr. Willett and our capable team at Lincoln Orthodontics in Lincoln, Nebraska, know precisely how difficult it can be to adjust as you start your new treatment so we provide a free Care Kit with all the helpful tools you’ll need to care for braces and maintain good oral hygiene. You’ll also receive a Care Guide complete with simple tips to keep you on track and achieve your smile goals. Armed with the best tools and the proper knowledge, we make it easy to care for your braces and shorten your journey to a beautifully aligned smile.

The Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Good brushing habits are essential to keep your treatment on schedule. Our “Care Kit” includes two soft-bristled toothbrushes, one for home and a travel-sized toothbrush you can pack for on-the-go brushing. We recommend you brush on all sides of your braces – including between the braces and around your gums – every time you brush. There is no “perfect toothbrush” and electric or manual brushes can both be effective. The best brush for you is the one you’ll use regularly an as instructed

Whether wearing traditional braces or clear aligners, you should follow these guidelines to maintain clean teeth and a healthy mouth.

• Brush at least three times a day, ideally after each meal and once before bed.
• Brush gently at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line, moving the toothbrush in a circular pattern across the teeth to effectively remove plaque and any trapped food particles.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months – or sooner if you have had a cold or any other illness.

How Long Should You Brush For?

Two minutes! And if you use the colorful two-minute hourglass timer provided in our Care Kit, you’ll know you’ve brushed long enough. For kids, they can even make brushing a little more fun while giving them a clearer sense of how long they should brush their teeth. 

Floss and Tree Brush

Brushing alone won’t be enough to flush food and sugar in the nooks of your brackets. To clean under braces’ wires, we provide a “tree” brush, also called an interproximal brush, featuring a flexible wire neck and small handle to make it easier to reach difficult areas. Our Care Kit also includes floss threaders to let you pull floss under the wires, which helps to floss between your teeth. Floss threaders are the easiest way to floss under teeth farther back into your mouth.

• Focus on cleaning food debris from the gum area to prevent irritation or gingivitis.
• Use a long piece of floss thread to reach the teeth in the very back.
• Any questions? Ask Dr. Emily Willett or one of our experts for tips to floss under your wires efficiently.

Mouthwash

A fluoride mouthwash helps flush out bacteria, freshens your breath, and supports hard and healthy enamel. Note that mouthwash doesn’t replace an everyday brushing and flossing routine. We provide an anticavity fluoride mouthwash in our Care Kit. 

Disclosing Tablets

These chewable tablets feature a dye that reveals plaque buildup and should be used right after brushing. The temporary dye shows the spots you might have missed so you can focus on the stained areas. After brushing and flossing your teeth again, the dye will mostly rinse away. Most people use the dye before bed, so it can fade naturally overnight. These tablets can also be substituted for color-indicating toothpaste, called PlaqueHD. 

Wax

We work extra hard to be gentle with our treatments, but there’s no doubt that care for braces are a new sensation at first. You may experience discomfort on your lips and cheeks, and our Care Kit has a fix for that, too. Use the provided wax to create a smooth barrier between your braces. We recommend you roll a pea-sized amount of wax in your fingers to soften it, then firmly press it onto the area of the braces causing irritation.

Visit With Our Experts About Care for Braces

Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to complications in your treatment and may affect the final results, which is why we recommend you get regular checkups at Lincoln Orthodontics. Dr. Willett and her capable team of orthodontic experts will help you with any questions you may have and provide you with the best advice for caring for your braces. We know life is busy, but regular visits with our experts will ensure your braces are on track for success!