Braces have advanced by leaps and bounds to become much more effective and comfortable than ever before. Despite this, the brackets can still rasp against the inside of your lips and cheeks and leave sores on these soft tissues. Not only does this irritation cause discomfort, but these open cuts can potentially become infected and cause serious problems if left untreated. Thankfully, it’s easy to keep your mouth healthy and comfortable while you straighten your smile. Here’s how to prevent soft tissue irritation and what you can do if you find yourself with mouth sores from braces.

Is it almost time for your braces to come off? Congratulations! However, even though you’ll be ready to show off those perfect pearly whites, removing your braces isn’t the last step of your orthodontic treatment. You’ll still need to wear a retainer for a while (or perhaps forever) if you want to keep your teeth from drifting out of position. Neglecting to follow through on this final stage of your treatment could mean that you find yourself with a mouthful of crooked teeth again in a few years! Here’s what you need to know about your retainer and how to take care of it to keep your beautifully straightened smile for life!