Looking after removable and fixed braces

Even if you have removable aligners instead of fixed braces, it’s still really important to look after them and keep them clean. You should:

• Rinse your aligners every night and brush them gently with lukewarm water and a soft toothbrush
• Never use toothpaste or hot water, as this could damage them and bend them out of shape
• Use an aligner cleaning solution once a week for a deep clean. Your orthodontist will advise you on this when you start treatment

If you have any questions about cleaning your aligners, get in touch with your local practice and they’ll be happy to help.

If you have removable aligners, you’ll take them out to eat. Bear in mind that aligners can stain, so you’ll need to brush your teeth after eating. The only thing you should drink while wearing removable aligners is water. You can enjoy other drinks when you're not wearing your aligners, but try to minimise the amount you remove them as they need to be in for between 20 and 22 hours a day.

If you have fixed braces, the wires can break if you eat crunchy or hard foods like nuts, pizza crusts, apples, raw carrots and biscuits. If you’re going to have hard foods, cut them up into small pieces first. You should avoid sticky foods like toffees or chewy sweets as they can damage the wires on your braces.

You might find that you have some initial discomfort when you start orthodontic treatment. With removable aligners, your teeth may be tender and ache for a few days. With fixed braces, you might find that they rub your cheeks and tongue at first. Our top tips include:

• Try to eat foods that don’t need chewing, like soup, natural yoghurt or smoothies for the first few days
• Use over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to manage the initial discomfort
• Rinse your mouth with salt water
• For fixed braces, ask your orthodontist for some orthodontic wax to press over the areas causing discomfort

If you struggle with the discomfort, or if it continues for more than a couple of weeks, get in touch with your orthodontist for further advice.

Chat to your orthodontist about the sport you play at your initial consultation and they’ll let you know what to do. Typically, you can still play sports if you’re having orthodontic treatment.

If you’re having treatment with removable aligners, you’ll need to wear them for around 20 hours a day. It should be fine to remove them while you’re playing sport, but your orthodontist may recommend replacing the aligners with a custom-made gum shield.

If you wear fixed braces, it’s a good idea to wear a gum shield over them when playing contact sports like rugby. This will protect your braces and teeth. You can get a custom-made gum shield from your orthodontist or dentist. There are over-the-counter ones available online and in high street shops, but they don’t protect your teeth as well as custom-made ones.