FAQs

Oral hygiene is crucial when wearing braces because the brackets, wires, and bands create more spaces for food particles and plaque to accumulate. If not properly cleaned, this can lead to the formation of cavities, gum disease, and even white spots on the teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly, can help ensure a healthy smile and successful orthodontic treatment.

Brushing your teeth with braces requires a little extra care and attention to ensure that you remove all food particles and plaque. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Rinse your mouth with water to loosen any food particles.
2. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to brush your teeth gently in a circular motion.
3. Brush the brackets and wires carefully to remove any food particles that may have become trapped.
4. Use interdental brushes, floss threaders, or a water flosser to clean between your teeth and around your braces.
5. Rinse your mouth with water or an antiseptic mouthwash to remove any remaining debris.

Remember to brush after each meal or snack, and use fluoride toothpaste to help protect your teeth from cavities. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits can help ensure a healthy smile and successful orthodontic treatment.

Yes, you can still eat regular food with braces, but it's important to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can damage or get stuck in your braces. These types of foods include hard candy, popcorn, nuts, ice, gum, and taffy. It's also a good idea to cut up harder foods like apples and carrots into smaller pieces to make them easier to chew

It's important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet, even with braces. Soft foods like soups, smoothies, and yogurt can be a good option, as well as cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and lean proteins like chicken and fish.

Orthodontic emergencies are not very common, but they can happen. The most common orthodontic emergencies include broken brackets, wires poking the cheeks or gums, and loose bands or wires. These issues can cause discomfort and can affect the progress of your orthodontic treatment if left untreated.

If you experience an orthodontic emergency, it's important to contact our Frisco office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to fix the issue. In the meantime, you can try to alleviate any discomfort by using orthodontic wax to cover any wires or brackets that are irritating your mouth, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.

Orthodontic elastics, also known as rubber bands, are often used in orthodontic treatment to help correct a patient's bite or alignment of the teeth. They work by applying gentle, continuous force to the teeth and jaws, which helps to move them into the desired position. They are typically attached to braces or other orthodontic appliances and come in a variety of colors and sizes. They are customized to each patient's unique treatment plan, with the specific placement and tension of the elastics determined by the orthodontist.

Most patients will be instructed to wear their elastics 24/7 or at night time only. If you are asked to wear your elastics 24/7, you will only want to take them out to eat and brush your teeth. For nighttime-only wear, you will put them in before you go to sleep and remove them in the morning when you brush your teeth.

Having braces removed is an exciting milestone in every orthodontic patient’s journey. We love seeing the difference that we make in the lives of our patients and take pride in providing convenient service using the latest technology.

At GoaLine Orthodontics, getting your braces off is fun and easy. We polish the teeth and then take a 3D scan of them before printing a 3D model in-house. We use the 3D model to make your retainer quickly and conveniently. And last but not least, we will put on a turkey referee hat and let you pick some candy or popcorn from our GoaLine concession stand!

Please take a minute to check out our video of a pair of our awesome patients enjoying their special day!