Brushing (3 times per day) and flossing (at least once per day) should become a critical part of your daily routine when undergoing braces treatment. You should also use a daily fluoride rinse such as Listerine® Total Care Zero. It’s important to visit your general dental office every 3-6 months for regular dental cleanings. Caring for your teeth, and keeping them clean will avoid decay and cavities.

See our Life with Braces page for more on brushing and flossing instructions to ensure a clean and healthy smile.

The wrong types of food or eating certain foods improperly can cause loose or broken brackets, bends in wires, or food to get stuck in the brackets.

Hard foods, such as popcorn, hard candies, ice, hard crusty breads or bagels, and nuts as well as sticky and chewy foods such as gum, toffee, chewy granola bars, and gummy candies must be completely eliminated from ones diet for the entire length of treatment to prevent breakages.

Foods with bones or pits must be avoided too, and corn must be cut from the cob. Raw foods like apples, carrots, and celery should be cut into small pieces before eating to avoid bending wires or breaking of the braces.

When in doubt, avoid it! Also, please avoid biting fingernails, pens/pencils, mouthguards and water bottles.

The truth is, there is no universal age at which children should get braces. Some can start very early (with a phase one treatment before all their permanent teeth have grown in), while some have all their permanent teeth and are ready for full braces treatment earlier than others. Scheduling an appointment for a full assessment at Walt Orthodontics, to discuss your child’s specific needs with Dr. Walt and Dr. Grossman will give you a better idea as to when your child can and should begin treatment. We see kids as young as 7 for their initial consultation.

Both are popular options, but knowing the pros and cons of each can help you make an informed decision.

We are working hard on creating a blog post comparing Invisalign® and braces. Check back soon for more information.

In short – of course! When most people think of braces, they think of teenagers. While it is true that most do get their teeth corrected when they are teens, more and more adults are beginning to seek options to correct their teeth – whether for cosmetic reasons or to fix more serious structural problems.

Due to developments in orthodontic technology and bracket design, braces are far less painful than ever before. Braces can be uncomfortable for the first few days after they have been bonded, and sometimes for a few hours after an adjustment, but they are not painful.