Caring for Teeth with Braces – the Do’s and Don’ts

Despite breakthroughs in orthodontic therapy, conventional metal braces continue to be used. They are helpful in straightening teeth and correcting bites in circumstances when other treatment options, like Invisalign, are not recommended.

Metal braces, as you may know, are made up of brackets that are affixed to specific teeth and a wire that connects them. They are on the teeth from the beginning to the finish of therapy. As a result, they require special care.

Aside from how to prevent discomfort after a fitting, there are a few things you should know. So, if you’ve recently gotten braces or are considering getting braces by searching for “teeth braces dentist near me” this is the article for you. Here’s a breakdown of things you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to braces care:

DO Wash Your Teeth Thoroughly After Each Meal

While cleaning your teeth might be more difficult with braces, it is more vital than ever to keep your teeth clean at this time. Food particles can easily get stuck in your teeth, wires, and brackets. If these particles are not removed soon, they feed the dangerous bacteria in your mouth. 

As a result, these bacteria produce acids that erode your teeth’s enamel and gums, resulting in tooth decay, discolouration, gingivitis, and other problems. Brush your teeth completely and carefully after each meal to avoid future oral health concerns after your braces are removed.

Do Floss Once A Day

When you wear braces, flossing is essential. This important phase in your dental hygiene practice will eliminate food particles and germs from your teeth’s nooks and crevices. Otherwise, these meals may cause oral health problems in the future. Simply insert the floss between your teeth and the wire of your braces to do this. (You might want to get a floss threader to help with this.) Then, carefully move the floss between the teeth and braces, as well as between the teeth and gums. This should get rid of any particles that a toothbrush missed.

DO Guard Your Teeth If You Participate In Sports

If you are searching for an “orthodontic treatment dentist near me” to get braces that are definitely going to be a big change. But it shouldn’t stop your life. That being stated, if you participate in any contact sports, it is critical that you protect the device throughout practices and games. Speak with your dentist about getting a mouthguard to protect your device and keep your mouth safe.

Don’t Forget To Attend Your Orthodontic Appointments

As part of your orthodontic treatment, you will need to visit a dental facility on a regular basis. During these sessions, the dentist will tweak your wires to help your teeth move and align. This will also let us ensure that you don’t have any decay or gingivitis. If a bracket breaks or comes loose between appointments, please notify your dentist as soon as possible. They will work promptly to resolve the issue so that you may continue with your orthodontic treatment and avoid unpleasant cuts caused by the loose brackets.

Don’t Chew On Pencils or Bite Your Nails

While many people undergoing orthodontic treatment are aware of the importance of avoiding specific meals, they sometimes overlook the importance of avoiding certain neurotic behaviours such as chewing on pencils or biting your nails. While this is sometimes done unintentionally, it is critical to avoid chewing on hard, inedible things in order to maintain your brackets and wires in excellent condition.

Don’t Eat Anything That May Damage Your Braces

Unfortunately, there are a number of foods that you must avoid when wearing braces. Chewy, hard, or sticky foods might damage or loosen your brackets, increasing the time it takes to straighten your teeth. As a result, you should avoid eating chewing gum, taffy, caramel, pretzels, hard candy, and other similar things during this period. Fruits and vegetables should be sliced into smaller, more manageable bits, and corn should be eaten from the cob.

Apart from the above list of things, we have added some other information about how to take proper care of your braces.

What You Must Do

• If something seems loose or broken, please contact us straight away. If we are not aware of the situation ahead of time, we may be unable to resolve it during your usual visit.
• Eat nutritious meals that are both excellent for your body and good for your braces.
• Keep your appointments, and appear on time.
• Apples, carrots, and other hard vegetables should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Enjoy sweets in moderation, as long as they are soft, such as ice cream, frozen yoghurt, cake, cookies, or chocolate.
• If you participate in contact sports, you should wear a mouthguard. 
• Brush and floss your teeth.
• Chew gum as long as it’s sugar-free. It’s even better if the first component is xylitol, which helps prevent cavities while you chew.
• Make an appointment with your regular dentist at least every six months for a check-up and cleaning.

What You Must Not Do

• Snack on firm, crunchy foods like chips and almonds.
• Ice is the ultimate danger for braces, so don’t bite on it!
• Eat sugary and fizzy beverages. Sugar and acidity may discolour and create cavities in your teeth.
• Chew on foreign items like pens, pencils, and even your fingernails.
• Consume hard candies like Jolly Ranchers, hard peppermints, Blow Pops, and so on.
• Consume rough foods like thick pizza crusts and bagels.
• Consume sticky, chewy candies such as Starburst, Now-N-Later, and others.
• Eat popcorn. If you eat popcorn, just be careful and rinse your teeth well afterwards!

The best way you can ensure everything goes smoothly is by searching for “teeth braces treatment near me” and then choosing the best dentists by researching. Although, there are several dentists online, with a little determination and the right knowledge you can find the one right for you.