Whilst modern dental techniques make adult orthodontics as hassle and pain-free as possible, it’s how you treat your new braces that will partially dictate their effectiveness and the overall health of your teeth. The power in the human mouth is staggeringly strong, so your braces are designed to be incredibly durable and resistant. Brace emergencies are rare, so your job will mainly involve keeping on top of brushing and care.

Brushing Your Teeth
There are three surfaces to brush – the outside, inside and chewing surface. Although the braces will likely only be affixed to one surface, the others will be affected by its presence.

Outside – It’s important to make sure no food is left on the braces after eating. Brushing your teeth after every meal is recommended. Angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gum line and focus on a few teeth at a time. Don’t brush too hard or the tip of the bristles won’t be as effective.

Inside and Chewing Surface – Whether your braces are fixed or Invisalign braces, cleaning the surfaces without any fixed orthodontics is fairly straight forward.

Mouthwash and dental floss are great to have on hand. Dental floss in particular can be a godsend for keeping your new teeth free from troublesome bits of trapped food.

Never place excessive pressure on your adult braces – e.g. prodding them with cocktail sticks to release trapped food – or they could become loose.