The Ortho “Ick” List: 5 Things Your Smile Will Thank You for Quitting

We want to make sure your child (or you!) gets the best treatment possible here at Mint Orthodontics. So let’s get into some of the things that give us (and your teeth) the ick:

Using Your Teeth as Tools

This is not a Sabrina Carpenter song… but please, please, please don’t use your teeth as scissors.

That means no tearing into that new Amazon order with your teeth, no popping open a Gatorade, no prying apart bobby pins, and no chewing the tag off your new top.

While you may think your brackets and wires add a little extra leverage and force, that’s actually the problem. One bad pull can pop the bracket off or bend your wire.

If you’re reading this and don’t have braces, the same rules apply: DON’T USE YOUR TEETH! Using your teeth as tools can chip them or wear away your enamel over time.

Not Brushing with Braces (Or… Using Whitening Products)

Let’s keep those brushing habits strong while you’re in braces… (Invisalign too!).

Straightening your teeth can absolutely help improve your overall oral health, but healthy habits still matter. Brushing and flossing every day is what helps make sure that when treatment is over, your smile is not only straight, but healthy and sparkling too.

Now let’s talk whitening products.

We know it’s tempting to start whitening during treatment so you’re ready for that dramatic “braces-off reveal” moment, but it may not be the best idea. Whitening products only work on the parts of your teeth they can actually touch. If you have braces, the area underneath your brackets won’t whiten along with the rest of your teeth.

Translation?
When the brackets come off, you could end up with bright white teeth… and little darker squares where the brackets used to be.

So while you’re in braces, avoid:

Whitening strips
Whitening toothpaste
Charcoal toothpaste
DIY internet whitening hacks

The good news? You will absolutely have time to whiten your teeth after treatment, and the results will look SO much better once everything is aligned and your brackets are off. We even offer whitening kits to help you get that bright, post-treatment glow. check it out.

Not Flossing With Braces

Keep the motivation train going. Remember to floss, we’ve got the tools to help, just ask!

When you don’t floss, food gets trapped in your brackets for days, which, of course, causes stinky breath but could also lead to swollen, bleeding gums.

Eating Forbidden Foods Anyway

One of the very first things we talk about when you start orthodontic treatment? Avoiding super sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods.

That means things like:

Sticky caramels
Hard suckers or jawbreakers
Popcorn kernels
Corn on the cob
Ice chewing…

These foods can bend wires or break brackets, which may lead to an extra “fix-it” appointment.

The good news? You definitely do not have to survive on mashed potatoes alone.

There are SO many delicious braces-friendly foods out there, and honestly, this is your excuse to get a little creative with comfort food. Mac and cheese? Perfect. Pasta? Amazing. Soft tacos? Elite.

When you start treatment with us, you’ll receive a welcome bag that includes one of our favorite things… a braces-friendly cookbook filled with recipes and snack ideas that are easy on your braces and seriously delicious whether you have braces or not!

DIY Orthodontics

We are begging you… more so your child… not to do any DIY orthodontics.

Don’t follow a TikToker’s advice on changing your own wire. No placing rubber bands in ways we didn’t show you. No removing a wire because it’s bothering you.

There is a reason we have you come in to change your wires, and place the bands the way we do. We are doing what is best for your perfect smile. When you do it yourself, you’re not just slowing down your treatment timeline; you could be moving teeth in the wrong direction or damaging your brackets!