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The ceramic braces are exactly like traditional bracket and wire braces, only they have a ceramic coating that is shaded to match your natural teeth. This makes them very appealing for teens and adults that want to improve their smile unobtrusively.

Dr. John R. Schouten wants you to keep in mind that if any part of your braces are damaged or bent or you have one or more teeth develop cavities, it will most likely increase the duration of time you need to wear ceramic braces.

Eating sticky and hard foods can sometimes bend wires and bands causing damage or even breaking something loose. Chewing gum can sometimes get stuck and cause significant damage as well.

You will need to maintain and diligent oral hygiene routine which calls for brushing your teeth and flossing between your teeth as well as the gum line twice each day. Sometimes it can be challenging to removing food particles and plaque from your braces by brushing and flossing alone. Using a water jet, interdental brushes or a floss threader with wax coated floss can help keep these hard to reach places clean.

The ceramic material coating your braces is only subject to minor surface staining from dark foods and beverages. However, your natural tooth enamel will still be receptive to moderate and deep staining. Try to cut back on eating dark foods, and avoid using tobacco. If you do want to enjoy dark beverages, you might want to dry drinking these beverages through a straw, or brush your teeth shortly after drinking them.

If you do develop staining issues that cause your teeth to no longer match the shade of the ceramic coated braces, you should talk to Dr. John R. Schouten to explore your whitening options.

If you have questions about how to maintain your ceramic coated braces, you should call Dr. John R. Schouten at (307) 789-8742 to schedule an appointment.