Braces care: a daily checklist

Braces are not just “come in for activations”. 50% of the result depends on home care. This is the checklist we give to every patient with braces.

Every day

• brush after every meal (not twice a day, but 4–5 times);
• a single-tuft brush plus interdental brushes for the space between the archwire and teeth;
• an oral irrigator — flushes debris from under the archwire where a brush can't reach;
• floss with a threader before bed.

Diet

• no: nuts, rusks, toffees, chewing gum, biting whole apples (cut them into slices);
• with care: tough meat, loaf bread, cheeses — cut into pieces;
• juices and soda — through a straw, to avoid demineralizing the enamel around the brackets.

Check-up visits

Activation every 4–6 weeks — without it the system doesn't move teeth. Skipping visits means a longer treatment. Hygiene with professional cleaning — every 3–4 months.