After completing orthodontic treatment you must follow the instructions of your Orthodontist and dentist to keep your new straight smile.
Just like before and during your treatment it is vitally important to maintain your dental health and hygiene after treatment is completed. We will advise you on the best tooth brushing technique and give tips on flossing and using inter-dental brushes. It is also important to maintain your gums.
Just brushing your teeth regularly is not always enough, gums are just as important as teeth and there’s a much higher link to dental care and general wellbeing than many people think. We will also provide you with top tips on maintaining healthy gums after treatment is complete.
At the end of your active orthodontic treatment, your Orthodontist will provide retainers for you to wear. These are to ensure stability of results after active treatment is completed.
If you do not wear your retainer as recommended, you teeth are likely to drift towards their original positions. If this occurs then the only way to correct them may be to retreat with fixed appliances.
Once your appliance has been removed, Impressions are taken of your teeth in their new position and one of two types of retainers is made.
Whether you wear a fixed or removable brace during your orthodontic treatment it is important to monitor your diet to ensure optimal tooth health. However careful you are about brushing and mouth-rinsing, some braces can make it harder to keep your mouth clean. Not only must your oral hygiene be good, but you must watch what you eat.
If you are involved in any contact sport, we highly recommend wearing of a mouth guard to protect your teeth from damage or from being knocked out.
Protecting more than just knocked out teeth, mouthguards can also minimise the impact of collisions, helping to protect your jaw and other areas of the face.
When wearing fixed appliances it soon becomes clear that crunchy and chewy foods are the enemy however, they are not the only enemy. Advice on diet from orthodontic specialists will focus on the welfare of the braces and you will be warned against toffees, popcorn, gum and hard foods such as crunchy apples or carrots, nuts and crusty bread.
Drinks and foods with high acid content have the most potential for harm. Some of these may appear to be quite healthy, such as fruits and their juices, fruit tea and balsamic vinegar but the acids they contain temporarily soften tooth enamel and can lead to a condition called acid erosion.
Also be wary of carbonated drinks or over-consumption of anything with a lot of vinegar, such as salad dressings or pickles. Keep sweet foods and drinks to a minimum, especially when you have braces on.
