Post-Braces Care: How to Maintain Your New Smile After Metal or Ceramic Braces

After months or even years of wearing metal or ceramic braces, you finally have the perfect smile you’ve always wanted. But now comes the important part: maintaining it.

It’s essential to continue caring for your teeth and braces even after their removal to ensure your new smile lasts a lifetime.

 In this blog post, we’ll discuss post-brace care and share tips on maintaining your new smile after metal or ceramic braces.

Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings

It’s important to go for dental checkups and cleanings every six months or as recommended by your general dentist. During these visits, your dentist will evaluate the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth and look for any potential problems that could affect your newly straightened teeth. They may also perform a professional cleaning to remove any plaque, tartar, or stains accumulated during your time with braces.

Regular dental checkups and cleanings keep your smile looking its best and ensure your mouth’s overall health.

Use a Soft-bristled Toothbrush

One of the most important aspects of post-brace care is choosing the right toothbrush. We highly recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your teeth and braces.

Soft-bristled toothbrushes effectively remove plaque and debris from teeth and braces without being too abrasive on the enamel or gums. Hard or medium bristle brushes can lead to enamel wear and tear and make your teeth sensitive to cold or hot foods.

When choosing a toothbrush, consider a compact head size and gentle bristles. A compact head allows the bristles to access hard-to-reach areas between teeth and brackets. On the other hand, larger head sizes make it harder to reach the back teeth and can damage the brackets.

While brushing, use gentle circular or up-and-down motions to avoid brushing too hard. Brush for at least two minutes twice a day, and floss regularly to ensure that you remove food debris and plaque from your teeth.

Avoid Chewy, Sticky Foods

When you have braces, avoiding certain foods that can cause damage or get stuck in your braces, leading to hygiene issues, is important. Foods like gummies, taffy, caramel, and even gum can be difficult to clean out of your braces, leading to tooth decay or damage to the wires and brackets.

Instead, try opting for softer foods like steamed vegetables, soups, and fruits that don’t require a lot of chewing. If you indulge in chewy or sticky treats, thoroughly brush and floss afterwards to remove any remaining bits from your braces.

Wear a Mouthguard

If you are active or play sports regularly, wearing a mouthguard is essential for protecting your newly minted smile. A mouthguard can prevent damage to your teeth caused by impact or injury during sports.

You can opt for a custom-fit mouthguard from your orthodontist or buy a ready-made one from a sports store.

While a custom-fit mouthguard may cost more than a ready-made one, it offers better protection, is more comfortable to wear, and fits perfectly over your smile. A mouthguard can also be helpful if you grind your teeth at night, which can cause significant damage to your teeth.

Final Thoughts

At Aloha Orthodontics, we know that braces can be a big commitment, but they are also a worthwhile investment in your dental health and overall confidence.

Remember to continue seeing your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, and always wear a mouthguard when playing sports or engaging in other physical activities. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.