Need to know how to take care of your braces between visits with Dr. Eric Hickman? We’ve got you covered. Getting braces (metal, ceramic, or Incognito lingual) in Maineville or Liberty Township is a blur of new wires, colors, and celebration selfies. But that’s just day one of a wonderful journey with our team at Hickman Orthodontics. Your real success depends on what happens between your appointments. You’ve got to develop good habits to take care of your braces until your debond day. We’ll cover brushing, flossing, food choices, travel kits, quick home fixes, and why keeping each visit on schedule matters more than you think.
Master Your Daily Braces Cleaning Routine
Dr. Hickman recommends brushing at least twice daily. And, it’s best to do it after every meal for two full minutes. Start above your wire at a 45‑degree angle, then below, and finally polish the bracket face. Spend extra time on your gumline. Proper brushing with braces matters for our Maineville and Liberty Township patients. Why? Because the healthier your teeth are, the better your treatment will go.
Use fluoride toothpaste to help your enamel. Brackets and wires can become tricky places where food gets lodged. Before bed, our team recommends using a proxy brush under the wire and finishing with an alcohol-free fluoride rinse.
Floss Like a Pro
Plaque trapped between your brackets can cause your gums to swell (eek!). Swollen gums can slow down your tooth movement, so nightly flossing is non-negotiable for our Hickman Orthodontics braces patients. Thread waxed floss under your wire with a disposable threader. Move it across each tooth in a “C” shape, and polish to your gumline.
Pre‑loaded ortho flossers help reduce the time it takes to clean your teeth and braces. Water flossers add turbo power! Aim at a 90‑degree angle to your gumline and sweep along the wire for sixty seconds. However, remember that water flossers complement, not replace, traditional string floss. End with a fluoride rinse, and you’ll wake up to plaque‑free brackets and happier gums.
Braces‑Friendly Foods Nearby
Caring for your braces in Maineville and Liberty Township doesn’t mean you have to have a boring menu. Skip any hard, sticky, or crunchy foods. If you’re in Maineville, try local favorites likeMainTowne Kitchen and Bar orKrimmer’s Italianette Pizza.
How about Liberty Township? Look forSon of a Butcher Steakhouse orFord’s Garage. Browse their menus for softer foods that won’t wreak havoc on your brackets. Dr. Hickman and our Hickman Orthodontics team want to hear about your best meals!
Stock Your Ortho‑Care Kit
Think of an ortho kit as roadside assistance to help care for your braces. Pack two identical sets (one for home, one for your backpack or glove box) so you’re covered whether you’re atLoveland Tigers practice or camping atLake St. Louis:
- Travel toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
- Compact mirror
- Proxy brushes (tapered + cylindrical)
- Orthodontic wax
- Floss threaders or ortho picks
- Alcohol‑free fluoride rinse
- Spare elastic packs
- Nail clippers or blunt tweezers for quick elastic fixes
- OTC acetaminophen for post‑adjustment tenderness
Everything above should be available at most supermarkets and pharmacies, so it should be easy to restock your emergency braces care kit.
Handle Minor Emergencies at Home
Got an urgent braces crisis at home? Here are some of the most common ones we see in our Maineville and Liberty Township offices, and how Dr. Hickman advises that you handle them.
Poking wire: Nudge it back with a pencil eraser and cover with wax.
Loose bracket: Stabilize with wax and avoid hard foods; phone our Hickman Orthodontics office for repair.
Lost elastic hook color tie: Use tweezers to rotate it back, or call for a quick fix.
Sore teeth after tightening: Rinse with warm salt water, take acetaminophen, and soothe with a smoothie or milkshake.
Keep Your Hickman Orthodontics Appointments
Dr. Hickman will schedule your follow-up visits at regular times, so he can help you stay on top of caring for your braces. It’s important not to miss any of these appointments. And that’s not just us talking: missing your check-ins in our Maineville or Liberty Township offices can delay your progress. That’s right! Skip a visit and you might have to wear your hardware even longer! That means more time spent caring for your braces, and the debond day gets pushed back.
FAQ: Caring for Bracesat Home
How often should I change my toothbrush?
Plan on swapping it every three months, or sooner if the bristles start fanning out. Frayed bristles can’t reach the plaque that hides around brackets and wires. Choose a soft-bristle head and keep an extra brush in your ortho-care kit for nights you’re away from home.
Do I need a sports mouthguard?
Yes! Every time you play a contact sport. A mouthguard cushions blows, preventing cuts to your cheeks and lips and shielding brackets from impact.
Ask our office for an orthodontic-specific boil-and-bite guard that fits over braces without restricting tooth movement. Custom guards are also available for those in high-impact leagues like hockey or football. Store the guard in a ventilated case, and rinse it with cool water after each game.
Forgot the elastics last night, what now?
Don’t double up your bands! Tooth roots can’t handle the extra force and may become sore. Instead, put fresh elastics in right away and resume your normal schedule. If you’ve forgotten elastics for several days or notice your bite feels off, contact Hickman Orthodontics. Dr. Hickman may adjust your wear schedule or check your progress early.
Will ceramic braces stain?
The ceramic brackets themselves resist discoloration, but the tiny clear ligature ties that hold the wire can pick up pigments from coffee, curry, or dark sodas. Fortunately, those ties are replaced at every adjustment visit, usually every six to eight weeks. Minimize staining by brushing after meals and rinsing with water when you drink colored beverages.
Braces Treatments at Hickman Orthodontics
Want to know more about braces care and treatments at Hickman Orthodontics? Awesome! We have two locations in Maineville and Liberty Township where you can schedule a free consultation with Dr. Hickman.