Resources
Discover essential tips and answers to common questions about cleaning your braces, foods to avoid, managing sore teeth, handling emergencies, and ensuring the best care for your braces throughout your treatment.
You may encounter problems with your braces. This happens occasionally and you do not need to be alarmed. Some of these may be easily managed at home until you can arrange for an emergency appointment with us.
These tips are taken from Dr Ting's app BraceMate App which is available on the AppStore and Android Google Play. Please refer to the diagram in the 'My braces' section below for details on what each part of your braces is called.
Pain and discomfort
It’s normal to feel discomfort for a day or two when you first get your braces on. If this does not improve, a part of your braces may be loose or is sticking out.
Loose or missing parts
It’s not uncommon that a part of your braces may come loose or fall off during the course of your treatment. If there is no pain or discomfort, an emergency appointment is not required.
If you are having difficulties breathing, then it is possible that you may have inhaled a part of your braces. Please seek immediate medical attention!
If you have accidentally swallowed a piece of your braces, this is harmless. Allow it to naturally pass. Please contact us if there is pain or discomfort.
Something sharp or rough is sticking out
Orthodontic wax can provide some relief while you are getting use to your braces. Roll a small piece of wax into the size of a pea and flatten it over the bracket. If you run out of orthodontic wax, you can use the waxy coating of some hard cheeses. Alternatively you may use chewing gum, but be careful not to swallow it!
A wire ligature that is sticking out may irritate your lips and cheeks. Bend the ligature back down and tuck it underneath the archwire. You can use the wooden end of a match stick to push it in. If the wire cannot be pushed away, cover the end of the archwire with some orthodontic wax and contact us and we can arrange for an emergency appointment.
Sometimes the ends of the archwire stick out and irritate the cheeks. Use the eraser end of a pencil and try pushing the end of the archwire flat against the tooth into a more comfortable position. If the wire cannot be pushed away, cover the end of the archwire with some orthodontic wax and contact us and we can arrange for an emergency appointment.
Here's a video with great tips on cleaning and maintaining your braces:
Hard Foods
Braces can break easily, since they are actually designed to be removed from your teeth at the end of orthodontic treatment without damaging the enamel. Therefore we strongly advise our patients to avoid chewing on hard foods like nuts and lollies. Alternatively, we advise cutting up healthy hard foods like apples, carrots, etc. before consuming them.
Soft Drinks + Candy
Too much candy will eventually damage the enamel around the brackets and therefore we also advise you to limit your sugary intake.
Soft drinks (including regular and diet soda pop, fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks) weaken tooth enamel. They are even harder on teeth with orthodontic 'appliances' such as braces or aligners. It is recommended that you avoid soft drinks during your orthodontic treatment so that your teeth stay healthy and strong, and you finish your treatment with a good bite and a healthy, beautiful smile.
Orthodontic braces are worth the effort in order to get straightened teeth, but the discomfort that you will likely experience can initially be discouraging and uncomfortable. This discomfort is most likely associated with your body responding to the pressure on your teeth, and it can vary depending on your age, stress levels, and gender. There is no single cure for getting rid of orthodontic brace pain, but the bulk of it will occur during the first 24 - 72 hours after the braces are fitted. There are some remedies that will lessen the pain.
- Stick to a soft diet (yogurts, omelette, smoothies, etc.)
- Eat cold foods
- Avoid acidic drinks and foods
- Avoid hard or sticky foods
- Apply orthodontic wax to your braces to ease rubbing pain
- If necessary take an over-the-counter pain relief
It is handy to familiarise yourself with the bits and pieces of your braces in case you need to communicate this to your orthodontist. Here is a diagram to help you with the right words.
(B) Bracket: Brackets are glued directly to your teeth.
(A) Archwire: The archwire passes through the bracket and is tied on to it with a ligature.
(T) Tube: Tubes are glued to your back teeth and the ends of the archwire feed into it.
(L) Ligature: A ligature is a tiny rubber ring or fine wire that ties the archwire to the bracket.
(M) Metal Band: A metal band is a metal ring that is glued to your tooth.
(E) Elastic bands and (H) Hooks: Elastics bands are attached to hooks, which help move your teeth into its final position.
FAQs
Explore our FAQs to learn more about what orthodontists do, the importance of orthodontic care and more.
An orthodontist is a dentist who has received three years of full-time training so they can specialise in orthodontics. This is on top of the five to six years spent training as a general dentist. These professionals are the most qualified to diagnose, prevent and treat problems you may have in the alignment of your teeth and jaws.
The New Zealand Society of Orthodontics recommends that your child undergo an orthodontic consultation by the time they are seven or eight years of age. This is to assess the development of the teeth and jaws. Most often, no orthodontic treatment is required at this age, but your Orthodontist will continue to review and monitor your child’s dental development. Early assessment with an Orthodontist can help prevent more serious problems and complications down the road and also let you know when the optimal time for orthodontic treatment is for your child.
Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean. This can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, abnormal wear of the tooth surface, inefficient chewing action and excessive strain on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. Most untreated orthodontic issues worsen over time. Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat serious problems that can develop in later years. In addition, well aligned teeth and a properly functioning bite are key ingredients to an attractive smile, increasing self-esteem and confidence!
Only a small percentage of patients benefit from the extraction of adult teeth prior to orthodontic treatment. This usually only occurs in cases where there are severely crowded dentitions or when aligning the teeth without extraction would result in the appearance of “buck” teeth. As Orthodontists, we look at faces first and foremost, and our aim is to protect lip curves and maintain pleasing profiles.
As a rule, braces don’t hurt. However, some patients experience their teeth to be tender the first couple of days after they receive their braces or after an adjustment. This feeling will usually disappear. This annoyance is relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever if necessary.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer to this question. The cost of orthodontic treatment can vary from one patient to the next. This is because individual needs can vary greatly. The only way to be sure of the specific costs of your treatment is to have a consultation. Fortunately we are able to offer payment plans that make treatment more affordable. If you are a member of a Health Fund, then you will need to discuss your rebates with them directly. Higher levels of coverage will often return $2,500 over a normal course of treatment. They usually require you to be a member for at least one year, however, before you are eligible to file a claim.
Still have questions?
If your question is not answered here, then please do not be afraid to contact us with your enquiries. Our friendly team will assist you in any way they can, ensuring that all of your questions are addressed properly.