Home Care of Appliances

Orthodontic brackets make teeth harder to clean because they easily trap food and plaque.  Keeping your mouth and braces clean is important to avoid damage to your teeth and gums.

If the sticky germ plaque is left on the brackets and wires, it can cause ugly white spots on the enamel of your teeth. 

Orthodontic appliances like braces do not cause decay, they just make tooth brushing harder and allow more plaque to accumulate.

Your most important job is to keep your mouth clean. We will show you proper care of your braces.

If plaque builds up on your braces your gums will swell up and bleed.  Some people think that the pressure from gum disease can slow down tooth movement.

Thick, sticky plaque definitely makes it more difficult for the wires to slide through the brackets and this will slow down tooth straightening.

A fluoride mouth rinse (Fluoriguard, Act) or a prescription strength toothpaste (Prevident) can be very helpful to avoid scars on enamel while wearing braces.

Please floss with the “Floss-Threader” we give you, by pushing the floss under the wire, even though it takes longer.  Another flossing aid is the “Platypus”, a tool that makes flossing easier by slipping under the wire.