22 Apr 2023 Dental braces tend to trap a lot of food particles against the gums and teeth. That is exactly why you should carefully understand and follow the braces care instructions from your orthodontists. You are required to follow these rules and regulations to maintain a healthy smile during the span of the treatment.
Through this article, we will discuss how to brush and floss your teeth while you have your traditional metal braces on. we will also discuss what food to steer clear of and how you can deal with minor orthodontic inconveniences at home, with ease.
Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal
It is very important that you brush your teeth at least twice every day. We would also recommend that you brush your teeth 30 minutes after every meal if you have braces on. The waiting period of 30 mins is important for your saliva to wash all the acids from your food.
Brush your teeth like this:
- Brush the outside of each tooth.
- Brush where your gums and teeth meet using a circular motion.
- Brush the inside surface of each tooth.
- Brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Floss Once a Day
The best place for the plaque to hide is the unreachable places between your teeth and gum. That makes flossing every day, at least once very important for your hygiene. A floss threader is easily available at your nearest pharmacy and helps you floss with your braces on.
Floss your teeth like this:
- Thread floss through the threader and slip it up behind your archwire.
- Pull the floss between two teeth and up under your gum margins.
- Rinse with clean water.
Strengthen Enamel with Fluoride
Use fluoride-based toothpaste and fluoride-based mouthwash. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of your tooth and significantly brings down the risk of dental cavities.
Avoid Sticky, Hard-to-Chew Foods
You can eat almost all of your favorite foods with your metal braces on. However, there are a few food items that you should try to avoid to not encounter any inconveniences.
Please Stay Away from These Troublemakers:
- Sticky chewy foods like taffy, caramels, and jerky
- Hard foods like raw carrots and apples, unless cut into bite-size pieces
- Crunchy foods like corn chips, popcorn, almonds, and corn nuts
- Candy and other sweets, unless in moderation
- Sugary beverages like fruit juice, sports drinks, and pop
Take Care of Poking Wires or Brackets
You need to get your poking wires or loose brackets fixed from time to time, during your visits to the dentist’s office. However, there are many minor and insignificant issues that you can easily take care of at home.
- If your wires start poking, trim the wire with clean nail clippers.
- If a bracket is irritating your cheeks, place a small piece of braces wax on the offending bracket.
- If a bracket comes loose, your dentist is most likely to replace it during your next visit.
Maintain a Healthy Oral Hygiene Routine
Take a moment to check and rearrange your dental health and oral hygiene practices to rate yourself higher on the oral hygiene spectrum. Your aim should only be to prevent any permanent or irreversible damage to your gums and teeth, for the sake of your precious smile.