Once you get braces, it’s vital that you maintain taking great care of your teeth. Since the brackets and wires can cover up the areas you need to get into to clean, there are some different cleaning routines you may want to follow to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy throughout your treatment.
Brush After Every Meal
With brackets and wires covering surface area on your teeth, it’s very easy for particles of food to get stuck inside. If you only brush your teeth twice a day, it’s more likely that there will be a buildup of food, plaque and bacteria. Brushing after meals ensures that no bits of food are left behind, and so that you can keep up with having healthier, cleaner, fresher teeth under your braces at all times.
Use a Waterpik or Floss Threader
Flossing is always extremely vital for your oral health, and when you have braces, it’s even more important. Hard to reach places in between your teeth become even harder to reach, which puts you at a higher risk for cavities and gum disease. Special floss threaders allow you to easily get floss through your brackets, while traditional floss won’t work as well.
You may also consider using a Waterpik, which is a high-pressure water stream that cleans between your teeth. You can discuss with your dentist which option would be better for you.
Use a Soft Toothbrush
While braces are relatively strong, they still do have the potential to break. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will prevent the risk of breaking a bracket or loosening up a wire. Make sure also not to brush too hard. Brushing with a lot of pressure may make you lose tooth enamel as well as causing damage to your braces.
Avoid Certain Foods
Eating certain foods while you have braces could potentially cause more issues. Foods that are super chewy or sticky such as licorice, caramel candies, or gum can get stuck in and wound around the wires or possibly even break them and the brackets. This can increase your risk of cavities as well, since it will be harder to clean the candy out of your teeth.
Crunchy foods such as popcorn, nuts, or apples could very easily break your brackets. It’s also vital to avoid other foods that you have to bite into such as corn on the cob or large carrots. Anything soft and easily chewable should be perfectly safe to eat. Also make sure to stock up on calcium-rich foods, since calcium will keep your teeth healthy and strong.
Schedule Your Appointment
Starting your orthodontic journey is an exciting time. Make sure you work with orthodontists who will take the time and effort to teach you how to care for your teeth and braces. At Griffin Orthodontics, our specially trained team will work with you to get you your dream smile efficiently and effectively. For the best orthodontics in Oak Creek, WI, call us today.
