What to Pay Attention to After Getting Braces?

Starting braces treatment is an important step towards a straighter and healthier smile. However, the success of the treatment is related not only to the placement of the braces but also to the care shown afterwards.

What Should the Diet Be Like After Getting Braces?

After getting braces, certain food choices can lead to bracket breakage, wire displacement, and an extended treatment period. In the initial days, it is recommended to consume soup, yogurt, puree, soft fruits, boiled vegetables, and pasta.

Hard nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios (can be consumed crushed), chewing gum, Turkish delight, caramel, and sticky candies, hard fruits like apples, and foods like chips and hard crackers should be avoided. Pitted foods such as olives, plums, and cherries can be consumed after removing the pits.  Acidic beverages should not be consumed.

How Should Oral Care Be Done After Getting Braces?

Wires and brackets can cause food particles to accumulate. This increases the risk of tooth decay and gum problems. Teeth should be brushed for at least 2 minutes after every meal, no less than 3 times a day. Brushing should be supported with an interdental brush of the size recommended by your dentist for the areas under the wires. Interdental cleaning should be done with dental floss. While the use of an oral irrigator is not mandatory, it can be recommended as it supports cleaning.

What Should Be Done If a Wire Comes Off or a Bracket Breaks?

If a hard food is consumed, a bracket may come off or a wire may become displaced. In case of a broken bracket, if there is no poking, the routine appointment can be awaited, but if there is a poking or discomfort, the clinic should be informed quickly. If this situation occurs on a day or hour when the clinic is closed, orthodontic wax should be applied to the poking part to manage it for that night.

What is the Duration of Braces Treatment?

The duration of braces treatment varies from person to person. This period depends on the degree of crowding, the patient's jaw structure, age, the care given to oral hygiene, and the regularity of check-ups. The average treatment duration is between 12 and 24 months.