Braces and plates
Wearing orthodontic appliances such as braces or a plate can make it more difficult to keep teeth and gums healthy. While this requires patience and dedication, the result of a beautiful, healthy smile will be well worth it.
Getting used to new braces or a plate
Here are some common changes you may notice when you are first fitted with new braces or a plate.
Appearance
Your new braces or plate may make you feel self-conscious at first. However, orthodontic treatment is common, and you will notice many other people of different ages also wearing braces or a plate.
Modern orthodontics include different types of braces, some can be made to look invisible.
Speech
Your new braces or plate will make your mouth feel a little different and you may experience some difficulty with speech during the first few days. This will be noticeable if your braces or plate sit against the roof of your mouth and affect the movement of your tongue. Once your tongue gets used to the new feeling, speech will return to normal.
Braces or plates won't impede your speech in the long term. Practice speaking or reading out loud and in front of a mirror to help you get used to your braces or plate.
Eating
You can expect to experience some difficulty chewing when your braces or plate are fitted. Here are some tips to try, particularly for the first few weeks:
- cut your food into smaller pieces
- place only a small portion in your mouth
- try softer foods
- chew more slowly than usual.
While wearing braces, it's best to:
- maintain a balanced diet with limited sugary and acidic foods and drinks
- avoid foods with a sticky, chewy or hard texture that could break wires or dislodge brackets such as hard and chew lollies, and gum
- avoid foods that you have to bite into forcefully such as raw carrots and whole apples.
Learn more about the foods you can and can't eat with braces.
Tenderness and sore spots
You may occasionally develop sore spots or tenderness from your braces or plate. This usually only occurs after the initial fitting or an adjustment. Minor sore spots usually heal in a day or so. Using an orthodontic wax and warm, saltwater mouth rinses may help.
If soreness persists, see your orthodontist. Continue to wear your elastics or plate until your appointment, as leaving them out will prolong treatment and make it harder for the orthodontist to pinpoint the problem area.
Caring for teeth during orthodontic treatment
Good oral hygiene, including regular toothbrushing and flossing, will help prevent tooth decay while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
If you need treatment for tooth decay during the time you are wearing braces, you may need your braces removed and then re-fitted. This may mean extra appointments, inconvenience, extended treatment time and possibly extra cost.
To ensure you keep good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, brush thoroughly after eating using a fluoride toothpaste and a small soft toothbrush. Your orthodontist may recommend a special orthodontic toothbrush or an electric toothbrush.
Cleaning with braces
- Remove elastics.
- Gently brush your teeth and braces, brushing in and around all the wires and brackets.
- Clean between teeth daily using dental floss, a special 'threading floss' (which has a stiffened end to enable it to be threaded under the orthodontic wire), and/or interdental brushes.
- Spit out excess toothpaste, but do not rinse.
- Remember to replace your elastics after cleaning.
Cleaning with a plate
- Remove the plate and brush and floss your teeth as usual.
- Gently brush the gum areas that are covered by your plate and the roof of your mouth.
- Use your toothbrush and toothpaste to gently clean your plate and rinse it with cool water before putting it back in your mouth.
Occasionally, it may be beneficial to use a disclosing tablet to check you are removing all the plaque. Disclosing tablets dye plaque left behind enabling you to see it clearly. Disclosing tablets can be purchased from supermarkets or pharmacies.
Your orthodontist may recommend additional oral care products, such as fluoride gels or mouth rinses. They can also provide advice on wearing a mouthguard over your braces if you play contact sports.
Continue to visit your dental practitioner as usual for regular check-ups and treatment.
Damaged braces or plates
A dental practitioner should regularly check there has been no damage to your braces or plate. Braces have wires and brackets that are fragile and may break, loosen or bend if you chew hard foods. It's also important not to use your teeth to open bottles or packaging.
If you break or damage your braces or plate, contact your orthodontist immediately. It's important to get these fixed as soon as possible as broken braces or plates will not correct your teeth.