How to care for your orthodontics and smile design so the result lasts

Finishing orthodontics or a smile design feels like crossing the finish line. But the result lasts because of what happens afterwards: how you clean your teeth, whether you wear your retainers and whether you return for check-ups. These are the habits that make the biggest difference.

During orthodontics

More thorough hygiene

Brackets and mini-tubes create corners where plaque easily builds up. If it is not cleaned well, white spots can appear on the enamel or the gums can become inflamed.

• Brush after every meal with an orthodontic or soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Use interdental brushes to clean between brackets and under the wire.
• Floss with a threader at least once a day.
• If it is hard for you, a water flosser can help as a complement, not a replacement for brushing.

Watch what you bite

Very hard or sticky foods can pop off a bracket or bend the wire. Avoid biting ice, hard candy, unpopped popcorn kernels or pens, and cut firm fruit and food into small pieces.

If you wear aligners

• Take them out to eat and to drink anything other than water.
• Brush your teeth before putting them back in, so no food gets trapped.
• Rinse them with cold water and a soft brush; hot water can warp them.
• Always keep them in their case: many get lost wrapped in a napkin.

After orthodontics: retainers

Teeth have a “memory” and tend to drift back, especially in the first months. Retainers hold the result. They can be fixed, a thin wire bonded behind the teeth, or removable, a tray worn as the specialist instructs.

What matters most is following the wearing time you are given. If a retainer breaks, comes loose or stops fitting, message us: it is easier to fix it early than to move the teeth again.

If you had a smile design

Veneers are strong, but not indestructible. These habits help them last:

• Do not use them as tools: no opening packages, biting nails or holding objects with your teeth.
• If you clench or grind your teeth at night (bruxism), ask about a night guard.
• Lithium disilicate veneers are very color-stable; ceromer veneers can stain over time with coffee, wine or tobacco, so it is worth keeping those in moderation.
• Look after your gums: healthy gums are part of the aesthetic result.

If you had teeth whitening, avoid coffee, red wine, tobacco and dark sauces for the first 48 hours. How long the shade lasts depends mostly on your habits.

Check-ups are not optional

A check-up and cleaning every six months, in general, helps catch cavities, gum problems or wear on a restoration early. Your dentist may suggest a different interval for your case.

When to message us without waiting for your check-up

• Sensitivity or pain that does not ease after a few days.
• A veneer that moves, chips or changes color.
• A loose bracket or a poking wire.
• A retainer that no longer fits.
• Gums that bleed often when you brush.

This article is for information only and does not replace your dentist’s instructions, which may vary with your treatment.