”I’ve been dreaming of being an orthodontist since I sat in my dad’s office as a little kid. I watched my dad work and I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I love what I do.
Dr. Brian SmithOrthodontist in Wichita
More Than a Smile
Foods To Avoid
Hard Foods
We suggest cutting hard foods into bite-sized pieces to help prevent breaking your brackets, getting pieces of food stuck in-between them, or loosening your dental wires. Examples of hard foods that could damage your brackets:
- Ice
- Hard candy
- Popcorn kernels
- Whole nuts
Sticky Foods
- Sticky candy (caramels, taffy, gummy bears)
- Bubble gum (sugar-free gum is ok)
Sugar in Food & Drinks and Whole Fruits & Veggies
It’s best to avoid sugary drinks and cut fruits into bite-sized pieces.
Hard, Crusty Breads
You should pull apart any hard breads and eat in smaller pieces.
Oral Care Is Important
Brushing with Braces
Since braces can trap food particles and cause plaque build-up, it is very important to carefully brush as often as you can (preferably after every meal). This will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Having a Healthy Mouth
Flossing with Braces
We encourage our patients to try to floss at least once a day. Make sure that you pull the floss under your arch wire (a floss threader will help, as this can be a little tricky). Be gentle, but be sure to move the floss all the way up and down your teeth until it reaches your gums.
An Antiseptic Rinse
Rinsing and Cleaning
After you have brushed and flossed, rinse your mouth with water or an antiseptic dental rinse. This type of rinse will help fight off irritations that your braces might cause.
Keeping Those Dental Wires Clean
Interdental Toothbrush
We will provide you with an interdental toothbrush when Dr. Brian places your braces. It can be used to clean under your wires and around your brackets. Use this toothbrush slowly and carefully to help keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy.
A Clean Retainer Makes a Healthy Mouth
Retainers Are Important
When you begin wearing a retainer, it will accumulate food particles and plaque, making it very important to brush your retainer every time you brush your teeth.
Regularly soak your retainer in a glass of room-temperature tap water with a denture-cleaning tablet. This will help prevent plaque build-up and will also help your retainer taste better.