Appliance Care

Fixed Appliance Cleaning

With fixed braces we recommend 3 minutes of cleaning on 3 separate occasions each day, ideally morning, noon and before you go to bed. For the first 2 minutes use a medium bristled small headed toothbrush or electric toothbrush for 30 seconds in each corner of the mouth with direct brushing to include the appliance, all tooth surfaces as well as your gums. It is also useful to brush at a 45-degree angle above the brace at the top and below the brace at the bottom. The final minute should be with an interdental brush underneath the wire between every tooth. We recommend alcohol free daily fluoride mouth rinse to be used after each time you have eaten to ensure large food particles are removed from the brace.

Care of Removable Braces

Use toothpaste and your toothbrush to clean it morning, night and after meals being careful not to distort the metal wires/clasps. Always clean your appliance over a shallow sink of water this way if it slips out from your fingers it will land in the water and not against the porcelain sink, avoiding the risk of breakage.

Brush your palate when you brush your brace keeping everything clean and healthy. Use Retainer Brite to disinfect the brace once a week to keep it clean and fresh. Keep your removable brace in a hard box when not in the mouth for protection.

Care of Vacuum Formed Retainers

Clean the retainer twice a day with liquid hand soap (unperfumed) and a toothbrush and then rinse with room temperature water. Don't use toothpaste as it is abrasive and will cause small scratches in the retainer which will make it look yellow and frosty in appearance. Support the retainer with your thumb and fingers where you are brushing it to prevent it from cracking.

Disinfect the retainer once a week with Retainer Brite to keep it clean and fresh. Keep your retainer in a hard box when it is not in the mouth for protection. Do not put your retainers in hot water or leave in direct sunlight as they can distort and stop fitting.