Getting started with braces

During treatment with braces

In the first few days after your braces are fitted, your teeth may feel tender and the braces may seem a little bulky. This is completely normal. Your mouth simply needs time to adjust.

If your cheeks or lips feel irritated, use orthodontic wax on the brackets causing discomfort. As your mouth adjusts, this irritation will fade.

To stay comfortable during this period, you may find it helpful to:

• Choose soft foods
• Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed
• Practice speaking or singing to help your lips and tongue adapt

Brushing your teeth with braces

At your fitting appointment, we’ll show you the correct brushing technique to keep your braces clean.

If you use an electric toothbrush, angle the head to ensure contact with the gum line and brackets. Hold the brush still and let the toothbrush do the work. If you use a manual toothbrush, you will brush in gentle circles at the gums and use a scrubbing motion around the brackets.

We recommend brushing three times per day (morning, afternoon, and night), spending three minutes brushing each arch (six minutes in total). If you notice your gums are puffy or bleeding, you need to brush more in that area.

For your regular daily flossing, you can simply thread the floss underneath the archwire between every bracket. If you need a little help, there are floss threaders you can purchase. We also recommend interdental brushes to really get a good clean under your archwires.