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Orthodontic care

At each adjustment appointment, Dr Tselepis will make sure your teeth are on track for stunning results - but in between appointments, your treatment is your responsibility! Proper braces and aligner care is important to ensure a swift and simple treatment experience.

Caring for your braces or aligners may seem daunting at first, but you’ve got a team of experts at your back, and we are here with all our top tips for flawless treatment.

Eating with braces

It’s important to pay close attention to your diet during treatment with braces. Hard and sticky foods can break or damage your braces, resulting in setbacks. It is also important to limit your sugar intake as it can get in and around your brackets and cause cavities.

Foods which should be avoided during treatment include:

Sticky lollies
Sugary drinks and snacks
Crusty bread
Meat on bones
Large pieces of tough steak
Whole apples
Corn on the cob
Raw carrots
Ice cubes

When in doubt, cut harder meats, fruits, vegetables and sandwiches into bite-sized pieces to enjoy them. It is also important to avoid chewing pens or your nails (or opening things with your teeth) as this could damage or dislodge your braces and lengthen your treatment time.

Eating with braces

Brushing with braces

It is incredibly important to keep your teeth clean during treatment. Our team will show you how to brush properly with braces to remove food and plaque from the surfaces of your teeth – including the gumline, fronts, backs, tops and underwires.

Brushing with braces

Our top 5 tips for braces care

Use our recommended toothbrush and toothpaste - and use them regularly! Brush your teeth vigorously until they are spotlessly clean four times a day for at least three minutes each time.
Keep your mouth clean. If you are unable to brush your teeth immediately after a meal, be sure to rinse with water until you can brush.
Always be prepared. Carry a special travel toothbrush when you are away from home.
Rinse thoroughly after brushing. Make sure you swish the water all around your mouth and teeth.
Don’t forget to floss! It’s important to floss after meals to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy during treatment.

Our top 5 tips for braces care

How to care for your aligners

Clear aligners such as Invisalign® and Spark™ are a fantastic advancement to orthodontics and allow patients to experience an almost-invisible treatment journey. However, just like braces, a solid care regime must be followed to ensure your treatment goes according to plan.

Here are some of our top tips on how to properly care for your aligners:

Store your aligners. When removing your aligners for things like eating, you should always try to store them in their own protective case provided to you at the start of your treatment, rather than tissue paper.
Give them a brush! It's good habit to clean your aligners with a soft toothbrush and some water each time you remove them; this will remove build-up and bacteria.
Regular deep cleaning. We recommend using an aligner cleaning tablet every few days to keep your aligners looking and feeling fresh. Just pop a tablet into a glass of water with your aligners and let them soak for 20-30 minutes before gently brushing and rinsing with water.
Use your chewies. These small, soft plastic tubes are a useful device that you chew on to close any air bubbles between your teeth and your clear aligners. Using these regularly will improve the fit of your aligners and ensure your treatment stays on schedule. Not sure how to properly chew your chewie? Scroll down for a helpful video!

How to care for your aligners