Loose bracket, poking wire, discomfort — tap here for help
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Taking care of your braces today for the smile you'll love tomorrow.
We can't wait to see your smile progress! ✨
🦷 All about your NHS fixed brace
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Fixed braces use metal brackets bonded to each tooth, connected by a wire that gradually guides teeth into the correct position over time.
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The wire is tightened or changed at each visit — this gentle, continuous pressure moves your teeth.
Appointments are usually every 6–10 weeks at Dental Specialists
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NHS fixed braces are free for under-18s who meet the clinical need threshold, assessed using the IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) score.
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Having the brace fitted is not painful. However, it is normal to have slightly sore teeth for 3–5 days after fitting and after each adjustment.
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Treatment usually lasts 18–24 months. Your orthodontist will give you a personalised estimate at the start of treatment.
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Missing appointments means your teeth may not move as planned, treatment may take longer, and in some cases NHS treatment may be stopped. Always call ahead if you can't attend.
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After your brace comes off, you will be fitted with retainers to hold your teeth in their new position — these are just as important as the brace itself.
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Aligners are not available on the NHSClear aligners (like Invisalign) are a private treatment only, starting from £4,500 at Dental Specialists. NHS treatment uses fixed braces — equally effective and free for eligible patients under 18.
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Questions about your NHS referral?Contact us: St Albans 01727 845 706 · Milton Keynes 01908 630 169
British Orthodontic Society
How To Keep Your Teeth & Gums Healthy
Official BOS oral health guidance for orthodontic patients
🪥 How to care for your child's teeth during treatment
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Why this matters more with bracesBraces create extra places for plaque to hide. Without proper cleaning, white marks (decalcification) can appear on teeth — these are permanent acid damage marks, even after the brace is removed.
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Brush after every meal — at least 3 times a day for at least 2 minutes each time
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Use a soft-bristled brush with fluoride toothpaste, angled at 45° — brush above each bracket, below each bracket, then across the front
An electric brush works very well around brackets
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Use a small interdental brush between each bracket and under the wire after every brushing session
These tiny bottle-brush tools reach where a normal brush cannot
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Spit out toothpaste — do NOT rinse with water straight afterwards
Leaving fluoride on teeth protects against decay throughout the day
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Use a fluoride mouthwash once a day — but at a different time from brushing (lunchtime is ideal)
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Keep attending your regular NHS dentist every 6 months throughout treatment — the orthodontist looks after the brace; the dentist looks after teeth and gums
💊 Disclosing tablets — see exactly where plaque hides
Disclosing tablets are small chewable tablets that contain a harmless dye. When chewed, the dye stains plaque on teeth — turning it bright pink or purple — so you can see exactly where you have missed when brushing. They are especially useful with braces, where plaque collects in hard-to-reach areas around brackets and wires.
⬆ The pink and purple areas show where plaque is present — these are the areas to focus brushing on
How to use disclosing tablets:
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Brush your teeth as normal first
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Chew one disclosing tablet and swish the dye around your mouth for 30 seconds — do not swallow
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Spit out and look in the mirror — any pink or purple staining shows where plaque remains
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Brush again — paying extra attention to the stained areas around brackets and near the gum line
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Rinse thoroughly — the dye will wash away completely and is completely harmless
Where to get them: Disclosing tablets are available from most pharmacies and supermarkets. Ask your orthodontist or hygienist at Dental Specialists if you are unsure which brand to use. Using them once or twice a week is an excellent way to check your brushing technique, especially during brace treatment. Source: BOS Oral Health Leaflet
🦷 Keeping your teeth and gums healthy — BOS guidance
The British Orthodontic Society's oral health leaflet covers the following key areas. Download the full PDF above for complete guidance.
🪥 Tooth brushing
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Brush your teeth twice a day — including before bed — with a fluoride toothpaste. With braces, brushing after every meal is strongly recommended.
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Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Spit after brushing — do not rinse. This keeps a protective fluoride coating on teeth.
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Spend at least two minutes brushing — working systematically around every tooth, including behind the back teeth.
🧵 Flossing and interdental cleaning
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Clean between teeth daily using floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser — plaque between teeth cannot be reached by a normal toothbrush.
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With fixed braces, use a floss threader or superfloss to get underneath the wire, or use small interdental brushes which are quicker and easier.
💧 Fluoride and mouthwash
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Fluoride is the single most effective protection against tooth decay. Use a toothpaste with at least 1,000ppm fluoride (most standard adult toothpastes qualify).
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A daily fluoride mouthwash (0.05% sodium fluoride) used at a different time from brushing — such as lunchtime — adds an extra protective layer during orthodontic treatment.
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Children under 6 should not use mouthwash. Check label guidance for younger children aged 6–12.
🍬 Sugar and acid — the main threats
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Every time you eat or drink something sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to an hour. With braces, this acid collects around brackets and can cause permanent white marks.
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Limit sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes only — not between meals or before bed.
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Fizzy drinks — including sugar-free and diet varieties — are acidic and should be avoided. Water and milk are the safest choices during treatment.
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Fruit juices and smoothies can be just as acidic as fizzy drinks. If consumed, drink quickly through a straw rather than sipping over time.
🏥 Regular dental check-ups
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Do not stop attending your regular NHS dentist during orthodontic treatment. Your dentist checks for decay and gum disease; your orthodontist checks the brace.
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Children and teenagers should see the dentist at least every 6 months — your orthodontist may recommend more frequent visits if hygiene is a concern.
📸 Visual guides from Dental Specialists
Loose bracket — leave in place, apply wax
Poking wire — push flat with pencil eraser
Spacing — normal during early treatment
Food stuck — use interdental brush or floss
Home care overview — Dental Specialists
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Download the full BOS oral health leafletThe complete "How To Keep Your Teeth And Gums Healthy" guide from the British Orthodontic Society covers tooth brushing, interdental cleaning, fluoride, diet and decay prevention in full detail. Download PDF →
⚠️ Warning signs to watch for
Contact your orthodontist promptly if you notice any of the following:
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White or chalky spots on teeth
Permanent marks caused by acid damage around brackets — a sign hygiene needs to improve urgently. Contact the practice.
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Swollen, red or bleeding gums
A sign of gum disease developing due to plaque build-up around the brace. Needs prompt attention.
⚠️ Example: swollen, inflamed gums around braces — contact your orthodontist if you see this
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Persistent bad breath
Can indicate bacteria build-up around brackets. Review the brushing routine and contact the practice if it continues.
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Tooth pain or sensitivity that doesn't settle
Some soreness after adjustments is normal for 3–5 days. Pain lasting longer, or sharp pain, should be reported.
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Loose bracket or broken wire
Take a photo and send to the practice immediately. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment.
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Teeth feeling like they are going in the wrong direction
Unusual movement can occasionally occur. Contact your orthodontist if you are concerned about how your teeth are moving.
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Not sure if something is urgent?Send a photo to the practice first — our team can advise whether you need to come in or whether it can wait until your next appointment. St Albans: 01727 845 706
⚠️ Why diet matters when wearing braces
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Protect your teeth AND your braceBraces and wires are fragile. Eating the wrong foods can break your brace and damage your teeth. A broken or loose brace means your teeth will not move correctly — and your treatment will take longer.
What is tooth decay?
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Every time you eat or drink something sugary, bacteria (plaque) in your mouth produce acid. This acid attacks your teeth for up to one hour after eating or drinking.
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Food and plaque that are not cleaned off your teeth may cause permanent marks on your teeth and tooth decay — even after the brace is removed.
⚠️ Tooth decay and permanent staining caused by poor diet and hygiene during brace treatment — this damage is irreversible
✗ Foods and drinks to avoid
These foods can break wires, loosen brackets, and cause permanent damage to teeth:
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Sticky foods — must be avoided completely
Toffee, caramel, lollies, chewy sweets, muesli bars, sugared chewing gum. These loosen brackets and snap wires.
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Hard and crunchy foods — cut up or avoid
Whole apples, raw carrots, pizza crust, nuts, biscuits, celery, chicken wings, crusty bread, spare ribs. Always cut into small pieces and chew with back teeth.
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Fizzy and acidic drinks — avoid completely
All fizzy drinks — including diet versions — cause acid damage to teeth. Fruit juices should be kept to mealtimes only and drunk through a straw.
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Chocolate and sweets — mealtimes only
Keep to a minimum and only at mealtimes — never between meals or at bedtime. Eating 3 meals a day instead of snacking is better for your teeth.
✓ Good food and drink choices
Choose softer foods — especially in the days after your brace is fitted or adjusted when your teeth may be tender:
✓ Dairy products — cheese, yoghurt and milk are ideal brace-friendly foods that are gentle on brackets and good for your teeth
✓ Great choices
✓ Soup and soft pasta dishes
✓ Yoghurt and soft cheese
✓ Wholemeal bread (soft)
✓ Plain milk or still water
✓ Fish and tender meat
✓ Cooked vegetables
✓ Soft fruit (cut into pieces)
✓ Dry crackers and breadsticks
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✗ Hard sweets and toffees
✗ Chewing gum (any type)
✗ Whole apples and carrots
✗ Crusty bread and pizza crust
✗ All fizzy drinks (inc. diet)
✗ Popcorn and hard nuts
✗ Chicken wings and spare ribs
✗ Sugary snacks between meals
Why each category causes damage
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Sticky foods — wrap around brackets and wires, pulling them off and trapping sugar against enamel for hours
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Hard foods — snap wires and knock brackets clean off, adding weeks or months to treatment
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Fizzy and acidic drinks — even sugar-free versions dissolve enamel; acid attacks last up to an hour after drinking
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Sugary snacks between meals — each snack resets the acid attack clock; three meals a day is far better than constant grazing
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Fruit juice — high acid content even when "healthy"; keep to mealtimes only and use a straw
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Remember — from the BOS Food & Drink leaflet
• Avoid crunchy, hard or sticky foods
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks between meals and at bedtime
• Avoid fizzy and acidic drinks
• Limit fruit juice to mealtimes — drink it with a straw
• Brush for 2 minutes at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Check your brace regularly for any bent or loose parts — then call the practice
• Visit your family dentist for routine check-ups throughout treatment
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British Orthodontic Society · NOW Campaign
Brace Friendly Recipe Booklet
32 pages of healthy, easy-to-make recipes that are safe to eat with braces — breakfasts, soups, mains and desserts. Compiled by dental hygienist & nutritionist Juliette Reeves.
