What’s life with braces like?

Our team will demonstrate how to take care of your braces and teeth at your appointments. When wearing braces, you must be extremely dedicated to keeping both teeth and gums clean. Plaque is your enemy and can mean you develop swollen gums, bad breath, and cavities.

Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-based toothpaste. Remember to visit your dentist for regular check-ups.

Braces shouldn’t interfere with your food choices too much but there are some foods we recommend you avoid:

• sugary foods (they cause more bacteria, plaque and a higher risk of cavities)
• Cola and carbonated (fizzy) drinks, including diet cola, sweet or acidic drinks like orange juice and energy drinks
• sticky or chewy foods (like chewing gum or minties)
• hard foods (like pork crackling or chicken bones)
• foods that could get stuck in your braces (like corn)

Remember: frequent breakages will prolong treatment time and costs.

Fixed braces are normally quite robust but sometimes a component may break. Don’t panic; just give us a call.

A special appointment may be needed to repair the brace. We have emergency appointments available for these problems, should they arise. In some circumstances it may be ok to wait until your next appointment.

Pressure from braces can make teeth tender for a few days. A soft diet and some simple painkillers usually relieves this discomfort.

Braces can feel sharp in the first few weeks after fitting. You can use a small piece of wax (we will provide) and place it over the sharp spot to stop irritation. Simply replace it if it comes off when you next eat or brush your teeth.

In the early stages of treatment, protruding wires from the back of the brace can be annoying. For temporary relief, place some of the wax given to you over the wire to stop it from pressing into your cheek. You can call us for an appointment and we will trim the wire to relieve discomfort.

It is important to wear these as directed, so give us a call and we can post you some. Don't wait until your next appointment.

Absolutely! If there’s a risk of damage to your teeth or braces during contact sports, always use a protective mouthguard.

Please call us immediately and we will arrange an emergency appointment. This is more urgent if you have not had your braces off for long, as we need to get the wire back in place to prevent the teeth from moving. Bonded retainers must be worn for a lifetime, to avoid teeth moving back to their original position.

Please call us immediately and we will arrange an emergency appointment to retake an impression of your teeth and fabricate a new retainer. This is most urgent in patients who have not had their braces off for long. It is crucial to prevent unwanted tooth movement.

Please call us as soon as possible to make a new appointment so your treatment isn't delayed. Please contact our friendly team at Auckland Orthodontics today with any of your questions, we’ll be glad to help.

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