Braces care

Clean well, move faster

Plaque bacteria are easily trapped in and around braces. A careful daily routine keeps your teeth and gums healthy, and healthy teeth move more quickly.

The daily routine

The basics: brushing and flossing

Cleaning with braces takes more time and precision than normal brushing. Follow these three steps every day.

Brushing with braces

  1. Prepare to brush

    Take out elastics and any other removable parts of your appliance. Then clean your braces: hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom, and take your time so that all plaque and debris is removed.

  2. Brush your teeth

    Clean each tooth individually. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, then move it gently in small circles for about 10 seconds. Use the same action on the outer and inner surfaces of every tooth, tilting the brush to reach the inside of the smaller front teeth.

  3. Floss once a day

    Follow the instructions on your product. A floss threader or a flossing product designed for braces makes it much easier to reach under the wires.

What to avoid

Protect your braces

Some foods can bend wires, loosen the cement under the bands or break the small brackets and tubes on your teeth.

  • Hard foodsCan bend wires, loosen cement or break brackets. Slice apples, carrots and biltong carefully.
  • Sticky foodsCan bend wires and pull bands loose.
  • Sugary foodsCause tooth decay. If you eat them, brush straight away, or at least rinse with water, then brush.

Also avoid popcorn, lollipops, peanuts, toffees, ice and chewing gum.

Crusts should be removed from toast, and rusks are best dipped in tea or coffee to soften them first.

If anything breaks or a wire is poking you, call your branch. We would rather see you early than let a small problem grow.

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