When you have braces fitted, whether you are a child, teen or adult, there is a lot you need to know. Yes, this device is moving your teeth, but in the interim (usually 2 years) how can you adapt? And what are the lesser-known parts of the treatment that you need to know about?

At Ashlow Orthodontics, braces are our speciality, and if you are fed up with misaligned teeth, come and see our orthodontist Stoke on Trent, for an assessment and a plan to realign your smile.

So, what are some of the things that our orthodontist Stoke-on-Trent wants you to know? Read on to find out!

You may need rubber bands

Why would you need rubber bands with braces? Our orthodontist Stoke-on-Trent may be aiming to treat an overbite or underbite, meaning you will need to wear rubber bands for a set period. You usually need to wear them all the time, except when eating and cleaning your teeth. In most cases, you may need to change them twice a day, as they can only exert the appropriate amount of force for 8 hours per day, so keep them in!

You may need a power chain

A power chain is a rubber band-like device that is made of a line of circles; these are put over the brackets behind the wire. The chain is used to pull teeth together, so if you have a gap that needs to be closed, we will use one of these. They are usually clear but put additional pressure on your teeth, so be gentle when eating or brushing!

You will need to up your dental hygiene

When you have braces, you need to up your dental hygiene.

This is to prevent gum disease and tooth decay as simply put, you have a device attached to your teeth that holds food in place. So, our team will advise you to get an electric toothbrush with different heads, a water flosser, a floss threader, and dental tape, as well as orthodontic mouthwash and high fluoride toothpaste.

You will need to brush twice a day, but after you eat, it is best to use an interdental brush to remove food debris that is stuck between the brace and your teeth.

You may need a TAD

This is only the case if we need to move our teeth upwards or downwards, but a TAD or temporary anchorage device may be used to help us.

These are similar to the screws that are used with dental implants, but they are used by our orthodontic team to attach rubber bands and wires. They are, as the name suggests, temporary and are typically used in the mid-phase of orthodontic care.

You will need to change your diet

One thing that you have to consider when you have fitted braces is that you will need to change your diet. And for the first few weeks, the hunger is real!

If you are a fan of chewing ice, eating sticky foods, hard foods, or chewy foods, you will need to stop that now! Why? Well, chewing hard foods can cause the brackets on the brace to snap off, sticky foods can wrap around the brackets, and chewy foods can pull the brackets off.

So, it is best to switch to a softer diet with your braces; aim for boiled vegetables, eggs, fish, yoghurt, pasta, rice, soft bread and porridge. You can have chocolate, provided it is milk chocolate, without nuts, caramel, or nougat. Just make sure you clean your braces and teeth afterward!