You have finally gotten the braces you need to improve your appearance and remedy any dental issues you may have. Now, you need to take proper care of your braces and teeth at home in order to prevent any damage to the braces or decay to your teeth. There are several things to consider when it comes to home care for braces.
To prevent damage to braces, you should avoid certain foods. The main foods to avoid are hard, chewy or sticky items. For example, chewing raw carrots, nuts, hard candy and ice should be stopped. These can break your brackets, which will mean another visit to our office for repairs that may increase the time you wear the braces. Hard foods can be cut into small pieces. Sticky foods, including caramels, dried fruits, taffy or gum, will find their way into the tiny corners of your braces and be difficult to remove. Over time, sticky foods could cause tooth decay.
Brushing twice a day is recommended for everyone, but if you have braces, it’s essential to brush after every meal. Food that is caught between the brackets can only be removed by brushing and flossing. If food is left in the brackets, it can develop plaque that will cause a permanent white spot on your tooth. Use a soft toothbrush and brush below and above the brackets. Because of the brackets, the toothbrush may wear out quickly, so you should always use a new one when the bristles start to fray. An electric toothbrush is also good.
It is recommended to avoid soft drinks and boxed or prepared juices because they can be high in sugar and very acidic, which can damage your teeth. If you would like to drink a soft drink occasionally, make sure you rinse your mouth thoroughly with water or mouthwash afterwards.
Flossing is also very important, but not necessary to do after every meal. You should floss every day between your teeth and under the wires. You can ask our specialist about a mechanism that will help make flossing easier. When you finish flossing, you can use an antibacterial mouthwash to reach the tiny spaces that flossing and brushing missed.
When you are not in a position to brush after eating a snack, make sure you carefully rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. You can brush when you get the chance.
Home care for braces may require some extra work, but remember that braces are temporary and your orthodontic correction will go faster if you do not break brackets or wires. With proper care, you can avoid developing decay and gum disease while wearing braces and finally have bright, straight teeth.
You can learn all of the facts about proper home care for braces when you visit Brace Central in Brooklyn. Contact us today to schedule your orthodontic appointment.