Skip to content
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • (304) 201-3672
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
        • Braces
          • Types Of Braces
          • Braces For Kids
          • Braces For Teens
          • Braces For Adults
          • Braces FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Invisalign
          • About Invisalign
          • Invisalign For Kids
          • Invisalign For Teens
          • Invisalign For Adults
          • Invisalign FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Other Treatments
          • Early Orthodontics
          • Brava Independent Movers
          • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
          • Enamel Shaping
          • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
    • Braces
      • Types Of Braces
      • Braces For Kids
      • Braces For Teens
      • Braces For Adults
      • Braces FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Invisalign
      • About Invisalign
      • Invisalign For Kids
      • Invisalign For Teens
      • Invisalign For Adults
      • Invisalign FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Other Treatments
      • Early Orthodontics
      • Brava Independent Movers
      • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
      • Enamel Shaping
      • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 407-3371
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
Complimentary Consult
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • Youtube

Braces-Wearers: Follow These Daily Tips!

Live Life Smiling

braces-care
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • September 21, 2022

 

CONSIDERING HOW IMPORTANT our oral health is, we should all be happy to spend just four total minutes a day brushing and a few more flossing. For braces-wearers, it can take a little extra work thanks to all those added nooks and crannies where bacteria, plaque, and food particles can hide. Nobody wants to have the thrill of Braces Off Day tainted by tooth decay and stained teeth. That’s why we’re here to offer our orthodontic patients a few dental hygiene tips!

1. Increase Brushing to After Every Meal

It is extremely easy for food to get stuck in braces brackets, and not only is that very distracting as you fruitlessly try to clean it out with your tongue, it can also contribute to tooth decay. A simple solution for both problems is to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste along to lunch, and maybe even pack a few interdental brushes for those extra tight spots. Don’t let bits of stuck food ruin your afternoon!

One tricky part about brushing at lunchtime is toothbrush storage. Avoid the temptation of sticking it in a baggie for the rest of the day, as that will lead to funky smells and lots of bacteria growing on the bristles. If you can, find a place to store your toothbrush where it can dry out after using it. You could install a toothbrush holder in your locker or make room for a toothbrush cup on your desk. At the very least, try to dry it out after using it.

2. Don’t Neglect Flossing, Even if It’s Tricky

There’s no doubt that braces make it harder to floss, but we urge our patients to persevere. Maybe you’ve figured out how to make regular floss work, but there are also floss threaders or water flossers to make the process easier so that you can keep your teeth and braces clean. Daily flossing is absolutely worth the effort. It’s actually more important than brushing, and it’s essential if you want to avoid post-braces stains.

3. Avoid Whitening Products Until the Braces Come Off

Whitening products are often an excellent way to get the pearly white smiles we want — but not at the same time as orthodontic treatment. Using bleaching agents while the braces are on can result in discolored patches where the brackets were, and that is a tricky problem to fix later. Skip the whitening toothpaste and mouthwash and avoid whitening strips until Braces Off Day. We’re happy to offer recommendations for good whitening products after that!

You’re Not Alone in the Fight for Dental Health!

We want all of our patients to feel comfortable coming to us with questions about braces care and maintenance, especially questions about their dental health during treatment. You could give us a call or bring your questions with you to the next adjustment appointment. Meeting your smile goals is about more than just the position of your teeth, but also their health.

Together we can achieve the smile of your dreams!

Top image by Flickr user Dave Parker used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

REQUEST A CONSULT

LET’S GET STARTED!

Complimentary consult
Patient reviews

EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

READ more
JimSara H.
My daughter was very nervous about getting braces but they made her feel so comfortable that she relaxed and was laughing by the time we left. The process was quick and we were out in no time.
JimSara H.
My daughter was very nervous about getting braces but they made her feel so comfortable that she relaxed and was laughing by the time we left. The process was quick and we were out in no time.
Ownlee S.
Helpful and knowledgeable staff that have made the process of getting braces for the first time as easy as possible. They seem to truly care about the comfort of the patient during the whole experience.
Ownlee S.
Helpful and knowledgeable staff that have made the process of getting braces for the first time as easy as possible. They seem to truly care about the comfort of the patient during the whole experience.
Evon T.
Wonderful office!! Everyone is so friendly and really took their time explaining everything to my very nervous 10 yr old daughter, they put her mind at ease and made her feel comfortable. I would highly recommend them.
Evon T.
Wonderful office!! Everyone is so friendly and really took their time explaining everything to my very nervous 10 yr old daughter, they put her mind at ease and made her feel comfortable. I would highly recommend them.
PortablePlayz
We were very pleased with the office and the staff. Thank you for making this process wonderful
PortablePlayz
We were very pleased with the office and the staff. Thank you for making this process wonderful
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Amanda S.
Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics is amazing! My daughter, Natalie, loved the staff there...always friendly and helpful.
Amanda S.
Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics is amazing! My daughter, Natalie, loved the staff there...always friendly and helpful.
Amanda S.
Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics has such an amazing staff! My daughter, Natalie had a great experience there and we 100% recommend!
Amanda S.
Fantastic experience for my daughter, Natalie! She never dreaded going for checkup appointments on her braces because the staff was so amazingly kind and helpful. Would 100% recommend!
Amanda S.
Fantastic experience for my daughter, Natalie! She never dreaded going for checkup appointments on her braces because the staff was so amazingly kind and helpful. Would 100% recommend!
Our locations

Come by one of Our offices

  • Charleston, WV
  • 867 Oakwood Road
    Charleston, WV 25314
  • (304) 343-3672
Huntington office
  • Hurricane (Teays Valley), WV
  • 3659 Teays Valley Road Suite 200
    Hurricane, WV 25526
  • (304) 201-3672
Hurricane office
  • Huntington, WV
  • 451 Kinetic Drive Suite 200
    Huntington, WV 25701
  • (304) 343-3672
Charleston office
  • Ashland, KY
  • 2000 Carter Ave.
    Ashland, KY 41101
  • 606-388-2561

Charleston

Hurricane

Huntington

Ashland

Complimentary Consult

QUICK LINKS

Main Menu
  • Our Practice
  • Orthodontics
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us

LOCATIONS

  • Charleston, WV
  • Hurricane, WV
  • Huntington, WV
  • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 201-3672

CONTACT HOURS

Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday8:00am – 11:00am

FOLLOW US

Complimentary Consult
© Copyright 2025 Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Accessibility

Marketing & Web Design by HIP

Complimentary Consult