Metal braces are one of the most popular tools for straightening teeth for several reasons, including their efficacy. However, they need to be cared for properly for the treatment to be as effective as possible.
If you’re wondering how to care for your braces, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about caring for your braces properly
Taking Care of Braces
Braces And Your Diet
Considering your diet carefully is crucial if you opt for braces. Your wires are fragile and can easily bend or snap if you eat certain foods.
Foods like nuts and popcorn, as well as raw, fibrous veggies should be avoided. Other foods to avoid while you wear braces include:
- Peanut butter
- Corn chips
- Bagels
- Sticky candies
- Tough meat
- Whole raw fruit
It is not enough to avoid hard, sticky, tough, and chewy foods. It is also important that you minimize your consumption of sugary beverages. Sodas, fruit juices, and other sugary drinks should be avoided due to their high acid and sugar content.
If you choose to drink things other than water, be ready to rinse and brush right afterward to minimize any potential for damage.
In addition to minding the foods and drinks that can damage your braces, keep in mind the nutrients your teeth, gums, and bones need for optimal health while your teeth are shifting into the correct positions.
Consuming soft, nutrient packed foods will give your teeth and gums proper nutrients and keep your braces safe.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing daily is another important step you must take to care for your braces. It’s important to floss at least once per day to ensure that your gums and teeth remain healthy and there are no problems with your braces. If your gums aren’t very healthy, you may benefit from flossing after every meal.
One reason it is so important to floss daily when you have braces is that food is more likely to get trapped than it is without them. When food gets trapped in your mouth, several problems can occur, including discomfort, cavities, gum disease or halitosis.
If you find it difficult to use regular floss with your braces, there are types of floss and flossing devices that can make it easier. Opt for waxed floss, a floss threader, or an orthodontic flosser.
Brush Your Teeth After Eating
You must brush your teeth after eating when you have braces because it is very likely that food particles will be lodged in your mouth. Again, this can lead to several health conditions.
Brushing your teeth with braces is different and you need to brush your teeth very carefully to ensure that you do not dislodge a bracket or damage the wires.
When you brush your teeth, start by dislodging loose debris by using water to rinse your mouth. Then, brush along your gums while holding your toothbrush at an upward angle to remove debris trapped in the area.
Once your gums are clean while keeping your toothbrush held at an upward angle, brush up against the bottom of your brackets to dislodge food trapped in the brackets. Also, make sure you brush both the front and back of your teeth and tongue.
Best Toothbrushes for Braces
Toothbrushes with rounded brush heads will make cleaning your braces much easier. You may want to invest in a toothbrush that has soft, flexible bristles that will gently and effectively dislodge trapped food particles from your gums and brackets.
A toothbrush with a narrow neck and an ergonomic, tapered, or angled handle can also help bruising with braces. If you’re unsure about which toothbrush to get, talk to your dentist for their recommendation on which toothbrush is best for people with braces.
Mouthwash/Oral Irrigator
Mouthwash is a great way to kill bacteria in your mouth, but you do not want to use mouthwash that contains bright green or red dye. Such mouthwash can discolor both your elastics and metal. If you currently use bright green or red mouthwash, stop using it, and pick up some blue or brown mouthwash.
An oral irrigator is another important step you can take to care for your braces properly, especially if you tend to have plaque buildup. If you choose to invest in an oral irrigator, make sure you put fresh water in the tank before every use.
While this tool is highly effective for the elimination of bacteria, food, and plaque, it is not a substitute for flossing at least once daily and brushing your teeth every time you eat.
What To Do If Your Braces Are Damaged
If something happens with your brackets or wires, don’t panic. Cover any wires that are poking out with wax to keep your mouth safe. Schedule an orthodontic appointment as soon as possible to have the problem fixed.
Proper care for your braces is essential to your oral care. Be sure to stay away from hard, sticky, and chewy foods. Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush after every meal and floss at least once a day. Using mouthwash and rinsing your mouth out with water in-between meals is also a great way to cut down on bacteria.
While Cornerstone Dental doesn’t offer braces as a service, we do offer offset bite analysis services to analyze any problem areas, and offers adjustment treatments that range from simply reshaping a few teeth up to recommendations around
Are You Searching For A Martinsburg Area Dentist For You Or Your Family?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
