Straight teeth are only worth it if they stay healthy.
Orthodontic hardware and aligners both create new places for plaque to gather. The routine below keeps enamel and gums healthy through treatment at NRH Orthodontics in North Richland Hills, TX — so the result is a sound bite, not just a straight one.
Brush and floss after every meal.
During treatment the standard rises. Brush and floss after meals and snacks — not just morning and night — because food and plaque collect against brackets, wires, and the gumline faster than they do otherwise.
Plaque left around fixed appliances demineralizes enamel and inflames gums, and the marks it leaves are permanent. The habit is simple but non-negotiable: after eating, clean the teeth before plaque hardens. Carry a travel brush so a missed cleaning is the exception, not the rule.
With aligners, cleaning is easier — and just as important. Because the trays come out, you brush and floss normally. But always clean your teeth before the aligners go back in: sealing plaque or food against enamel under a close-fitting tray is exactly the condition that causes decay.
Keep the appliance clean too
Aligners and removable retainers hold their own film of bacteria. Clean them daily so you are not reintroducing plaque every time they go in.
Rinse aligners and removable appliances each time you take them out, and clean them daily. A common approach is a short soak with a denture-cleaning tablet dissolved in room-temperature — never hot — water, followed by a gentle brush. Hot water can distort the plastic and ruin the fit.
Store aligners in their case when they are out, not wrapped in a napkin where they get thrown away. The practice can point you to a purpose-made cleaning foam if you prefer one.
At a glance
Rinses and gels are plan-specific.
Some patients are given an antimicrobial rinse or a prescription-strength fluoride gel to protect enamel or calm irritation. Use these only as directed for your case — they are not universal.
An antiseptic rinse can ease gum and cheek irritation in the first weeks with new hardware. A sodium-fluoride gel, applied briefly at bedtime, helps remineralize enamel for patients at higher decay risk. Both are tools your provider matches to your mouth — follow the instructions you are given rather than a general routine.
Keep seeing your general dentist for cleanings and checkups throughout orthodontic treatment. Orthodontics moves the teeth; routine dental care keeps them sound while it happens.
Protect the result
Foods to Avoid
What to skip during braces phases, and why aligners lift most diet limits.
Invisalign®
How removable aligners make daily hygiene simpler than fixed braces.
FAQs
Answers on comfort, appointments, and daily care during treatment.
Questions about your specific routine? Ask the practice or call (817) 581-8881.
09 — Intake
Begin with an evaluation.
Your first visit at NRH Orthodontics is a full evaluation — CBCT airway screening included — and a treatment plan you understand before you commit to anything.
Accepting new patients — North Richland Hills, TX