Taking your braces off at the end of your braces treatment can feel like the conclusion of a long, arduous journey. However, take them off. They must, and there’s plenty you can do to make the process easier for yourself. Taking your braces off at home won’t be quite so scary as putting them on. It’s a lot simpler too, but there are still things you can do to make the experience less stressful. Here’s everything you need to know about taking your braces off at home.
How To Take Your Braces Off At Home
- Braces removal appointment, First of all, you’ll need to make an appointment with your orthodontist to have your braces removed. You’ll be given a set time and day for the appointment, so be sure to keep it. Your orthodontist will remove your braces and any wires, brackets, or retainers you may have been wearing over them. They’ll then tidy up any work they did on your teeth during the treatment.
- Braces removal kit If you’ve been given a kit by your orthodontist now is the time to use it! Your kit will contain some wax strips that you can use to take off the majority of your braces without damaging them. Simply stick one to each side of your brace and slowly pull them towards each other until they meet in the middle. This should loosen the braces enough for you to pull them off with ease – but be careful not to pull too hard!
- Tweezers If you struggle with taking off many of your trays by yourself or want a more thorough clean at home before going back in for another brace-wearing session, it might be worth using tweezers instead of wax strips. These will let you get hold of every single tiny little bit of wire that has been attached to your teeth while they were being straightened out which can sometimes build up over time and become hard to remove without help from tweezers or pliers.
- Brace removal without wax strips or tweezers If you’re not keen on using wax strips or tweezers to take off your braces, or if you’ve had a particularly long brace treatment, there are other ways of getting them off. The most popular is simply to bite down on the angle bracket and twist gently until the wires come free. You can also use pliers if you’re worried about damaging your braces in any way – it may be a little more painful, but it will get them off quicker.
- Soak it up. If you’re struggling with any residual bits of wire that won’t come free no matter how hard you try, the next step is to soak them off with water (or an oil-based cleanser, if you prefer). To do this, hold your teeth together and pour water into your mouth, so it drips out through the spaces between your teeth and onto the wire in question – this should loosen it up enough for you to pull it out easily
- Keep them clean Once your braces are removed, remember to keep an eye on their condition – even though they’re not being worn anymore, they still need regular cleaning just like any other part of your teeth! Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and an antibacterial toothpaste (such as Sensodyne) once or twice a day to keep plaque at bay, and regularly check for signs of damage or wear.
Do A Final Check Before You Take Your Braces Off.
Make sure your teeth are straight
You may have had your braces for two or three years, but don’t assume you can take them off just yet. Before you remove your braces, make sure your teeth are as straight as they can be. If they aren’t, you could end up with a permanent lisp or an awkward-looking smile.
Brush up on the rules of oral hygiene while you still have braces on
Brushing and flossing with braces is a bit of an art form, so brush up on the basics before taking them off. By doing this, you can ensure that your teeth will be in good condition after removing the braces and that there won’t be any surprises when it comes to maintaining them afterward.
Get some new toothbrushes ready to go
You need to make sure that all of the toothbrushes will be soft enough to rub against your teeth without damaging them. It would also be a good idea to get some new toothbrushes ready for when you take your braces off at home in case yours aren’t soft enough for brushing without them. You should also stock up on dental floss and toothpaste too – use fluoride-free varieties if possible – in order to give yourself the best chance of keeping your new smile healthy after removing the brace brackets from around each tooth. If you haven’t been using these things throughout your braces treatment, now is the time to start.
Get some new dental floss ready to go
You should also get some new dental floss ready for when you take your braces off at home in case yours aren’t soft enough for brushing without them. You should also stock up on toothpaste – use fluoride-free varieties if possible – in order to give yourself the best chance of keeping your new smile healthy after removing the brace brackets from around each tooth. If you haven’t been using these things throughout your braces treatment, now is the time to start.
Keep a close eye on your teeth while they are still covered with braces
It might seem like a bit of a chore to keep looking at your teeth during this time, but it is essential that you do so because the last thing you want is to end up with permanent damage when you take your braces off at home, and they need fixing in order to make sure that they are straight and aligned properly. This may sound like a lot of work, but it will be worth it if it means that your smile looks as good as possible once you remove the brace brackets from around each tooth. If you have any concerns about how your teeth are looking or whether any damage has been caused by taking them off at home, just let us know so we can help make sure that everything goes smoothly when the big day arrives. It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t remove your braces at home until you have had them on for the maximum amount of time that your dentist has recommended.
Apply Dry Mouth Spray Before You Take Your Braces Off
- Before you remove your braces, apply dry mouth spray to your teeth and gums. This will help prevent bleeding when you take them off.
- Remove the rubber bands first. These are soft, so they should be easier to remove than the braces themselves.
- Use a pair of tweezers to pull out the wire hooks from your mouth. These will be attached to a thin piece of wire that runs through your brackets, so you may need to gently tug on the wire with the tweezers in order to get them out of your mouth completely.
- Remove each bracket in turn with a pair of pliers or bolt croppers by gently twisting it off from one side and then the other until it comes away from your teeth entirely.
- Hold back any loose bits of tooth that are still attached using a piece of gauze or cotton wool, then use some dental floss or an interdental brush to clean out any remaining food particles trapped between them and rinse thoroughly with water, making sure that all surfaces are clean and dry before you put new brackets on again (if necessary).
Things To Do Before You Take Your Braces Off
Keep your orthodontist’s number handy
It’s always a good idea to have your orthodontist’s contact information at hand. You never know when you might need to call them, and keeping their number with you is a good way to ensure that happens.
Don’t rush the process
Taking your braces off isn’t something you want to rush. It can be tempting to get the braces off as soon as possible, but rushing the process could cause problems later on. Make sure you leave enough time for the process but don’t make it any longer than necessary either. If you stick with this advice, it should be smooth sailing from here on out!
Get some help if you need it
You’ll be able to take your braces off without any assistance, but if you feel like you’d benefit from some help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. It’s always a good idea to have someone else around when you take your braces off. You never know what could go wrong, and having someone else there to help if something does will be a huge relief.
Be mindful of the tools you use
Before you start taking your braces off, make sure that all of your tools are in order. You don’t want to find yourself in the middle of taking your braces off and realize that you don’t have everything you need. The last thing you want is for this process to become even more stressful than it already is!
Prepare ahead of time
If possible, try to prepare ahead of time for everything that will come after you take your braces off, including the process of cleaning and maintaining your teeth after the braces are gone. If this isn’t feasible for whatever reason (maybe there are things about the process that aren’t clear), then at least do a little bit of research beforehand so that when it comes time for those things, they won’t catch you by surprise!
Conclusion
Braces are an essential part of orthodontic treatment, but they can be a bit of a nuisance to wear. That’s especially true when you’re trying to take them off at the end of the treatment. That doesn’t mean that removing your braces has to be a dreadful experience. If you follow these tips, you should be able to take your braces off with ease. If you have any other questions about braces, don’t hesitate to ask your orthodontist.
