Braces work effectively for straightening teeth, correcting bites (overbites, underbites, and crossbites), and for cosmetic purposes. Braces are generally required to be worn for two years or more (depending on your condition) and during that time, it is critical that you take proper care to maintain your braces. Maintaining braces takes a lot of time and effort, but if you do it in the right way, you can retain your pearly smile while wearing braces. This blog post will provide braces care tips:
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You may not be aware, but it is essential to clean between your brackets, especially underneath the wires, with the help of a wire brush. Cleaning helps remove food particles and plaque that might get stuck between your braces and teeth that can lead to tooth decay. Therefore, make sure to use an inter-ortho (cone-shaped) brush that can easily get in between your brackets. Try to floss with a threader to clean between your teeth and underwires at least once a day. When you have braces, you require extra care while brushing. Therefore, take off your elastics before you start brushing. Make circular movements with your toothbrush over the braces to get rid of any leftover food and to ensure your breath smells fresh.
Make sure not to eat hard and crunchy foods such as apples, carrots, candies, nuts, and chips as they can break your brackets. It could be hard to remove these crunchy food particles if they get stuck in between your teeth and brackets. Since your teeth are extra sensitive after tightening, it is best to eat only soft foods for a few days. Opt for those foods that require no chewing, such as applesauce, milk, seafood, and eggs so that it doesn’t damage your tooth enamel over time.
You cannot stop indulging in outdoor activities or restrict yourself from playing sports when you have braces. You can play most of the sports with braces, as long as you wear a mouthguard. Get a specially designed mouthguard so that it can fit comfortably over braces.
Hardly are we aware of the fact that gums can get inflamed during orthodontic treatment. Rinsing the mouth after every meal with the help of mouthwash prevents bacteria build up and resulting issues. Thus, rinsing your mouth with the help of a mouthwash will eventually help maintain your gum health as well.
Once you have your braces on, it is essential to pay regular visits to your dentists both for cleaning your mouth and adjusting your braces. The dentist can guide you to take care of your braces properly by suggesting suitable measures.
Maintaining a healthy mouth is quite essential during and after braces. Therefore regular cleanings every six months and talking to your dentist can make all the difference. If you or any of your family members have braces, make sure you are doing all that you can to get the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment. Consult with our dentists to know more about braces care tips.