Taking good care of your teeth and braces is essential for a successful orthodontic treatment. If you want your braces to last as long as possible, you must practice good oral hygiene and prevent damaging teeth with particular foods and behaviors. Brushing your teeth after every meal, flossing daily, avoiding hard and sticky foods, wearing a mouth guard during sports activities, using a water flosser, regularly visiting your orthodontist, using orthodontic wax, and avoiding smoking and sugary beverages are just some of the eight tips shared here that will help you keep your braces clean and secure.
Always Brush After a Meal
Food particles can become lodged between the wires and brackets, which can cause plaque and bacteria buildup. Therefore, brushing your teeth after every meal while wearing braces is essential. Make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Remember to clean the chewing, biting, and front surfaces of your teeth every time you brush. Bad breath-causing germs can also be removed by brushing the tongue and roof of the mouth. Brush slowly and carefully if you want to maintain your braces in good condition. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping your braces clean and secure is as simple as brushing your teeth after every meal.
Floss Regularly
When you have braces, it’s just as important to floss every day as brush because flossing removes food and plaque in places where a toothbrush can’t go. To completely clean your teeth, carefully glide the floss up and down between them after threading it between the wires and brackets using floss threaded. If you want to avoid difficulties with food getting caught between your teeth, you should floss every tooth, even the ones in the back of your mouth. Keeping braces clean and secure is essential to avoiding issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and foul breath.
Stay Away From Tough, Sticky Foods
If you have braces, you should avoid eating hard or sticky foods so that you don’t break your brackets or wires. Popcorn, hard candies, nuts, and chewing gum can all damage or loosen braces, extending the length of your therapy. Consider consuming cooked vegetables, pasta, and fruits, which are soft and simple to chew. After eating anything tricky or sticky, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water to remove any food bits that might get stuck in your braces. You can keep your braces in good shape and speed up your therapy by being careful about what you eat.
Always Use a Mouthguard When Playing Sports
If you have braces, it’s essential to use a mouth guard during sports to prevent damage to your teeth and orthodontic work. The danger of damage to your teeth and braces can be minimized, and your treatment time can be extended with a custom-fitted mouth guard.
Consult your orthodontist with a custom-made mouth guard that will fit comfortably over your braces. If you have braces, you shouldn’t risk damaging them by wearing a standard mouthguard during sports. If you wear a mouthguard while playing sports, you can prevent damage to your braces and keep your treatment on track.
Add Water to Your Flossing Routine
If you have trouble with traditional flossing, a water flosser may be a good alternative for keeping your teeth and braces clean. People who wear braces may find the high-pressure stream of water from a water flosser very helpful for cleaning between their teeth and around their brackets and wires. Using a water flosser is as simple as filling the reservoir with warm water and pointing the nozzle toward your teeth and braces.
Make any necessary pressure adjustments, and always wipe down the nozzle after use. Even though water flossers are becoming increasingly popular, they should be used in places other than regular flossing. To keep your teeth and braces clean, you should continue to floss daily.
Make Regular Trips to the Orthodontist
As a Bergen County, NJ resident, you can access a wide range of orthodontic services to help keep your braces clean and secure. By visiting an orthodontist in your area, you can receive personalized care and attention, ensuring that your treatment progresses smoothly and effectively. When you have braces, it’s important to schedule regular appointments with your orthodontist in Bergen County, NJ, or wherever you reside, so they can check on your progress and make any required adjustments to your treatment plan.
Keeping your braces clean, secure, and functioning correctly by scheduling regular checkups can lessen the likelihood of issues and shorten the duration of your therapy. Additionally, your orthodontist could provide additional advice on caring for your teeth and orthodontic devices. If you want your orthodontic treatment to go as easily and quickly as possible, following your orthodontist’s recommendations and showing up for all of your visits is essential. If you and your orthodontist work together, you can straighten your teeth and improve your smile.
Use Dental Wax
If you’re experiencing discomfort from your braces rubbing on your cheeks, lips, or tongue, consider using orthodontic wax. To apply orthodontic wax, roll a tiny quantity into a ball and place it over the offending bracket or wire. You can make sure the wax is firmly affixed by gently pushing the wax with your finger. The wax can be reapplied as often as desired, after eating or before bed. Using orthodontic wax can help reduce irritation, but if the problem persists, you should talk to your orthodontist about adjusting your braces. You can keep your orthodontic treatment as pain-free as possible by using orthodontic wax and keeping open lines of communication with your orthodontist.
Reduce Intake of Sugary Drinks and Avoid Smoking
It is crucial to avoid damaging habits like smoking and drinking sugary beverages while wearing braces. Smoking increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease because nicotine weakens gums and discolors teeth. When eaten often or in significant quantities, sugary beverages like soda and energy drinks can erode tooth enamel and contribute to dental decay. Instead of smoking, you should try healthier alternatives like water, milk, or unsweetened tea. To safeguard your teeth and braces and speed up the treatment process, it is recommended that you refrain from smoking and drink only water.
Conclusion
If you want a healthy, beautiful smile after wearing braces, you must take good care of them. You can help your treatment go more smoothly and quickly if you adhere to these eight guidelines, which include brushing your teeth after every meal, flossing daily, avoiding hard and sticky foods, wearing a mouth guard during sports activities, using a water flosser, regularly visiting your orthodontist, using orthodontic wax, not smoking, and avoiding sugary beverages. If you have any pain or concerns about how to care for your braces properly, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist.
