If you have braces, there are a few maintenance measures you need to put into practice to protect your teeth from staining, decay and gum disease. The Academy of General Dentistry warns against eating sticky or chewy sweets, biting into crunchy foods, or breathing through your mouth while wearing your braces. Here are a few other tips that will help you maintain your oral health:
Brushing
Experts suggest that you brush twice a day, but this recommendation does not apply if you are wearing braces. While wearing braces, you are required to brush after every meal. This is because food particles can easily become trapped in between the pieces of metal. Worryingly, food debris heightens your risk of developing dental conditions.
Flossing
In addition to brushing after every meal, make sure you floss between and under the wires of your braces using an orthodontic flosser or a floss threader. Waxed floss is more effective than unwaxed floss because it easily gets between the teeth and is less likely to damage your braces.
Tooth-Friendly Diet
Braces favor soft foods like milkshakes, yogurt, applesauce and jello. Hard foods such as popcorn, nuts, beef jerky and ice can damage the wires of your braces to the point of loosening them. If you cannot resist crunchy foods, make sure you cut them into tiny pieces.
Don’t Clean Aligners with Toothpaste
If you use Invisalign®, do not clean your aligners with a toothbrush. Toothpaste contains various substances that can harm your aligners.
Follow Our Orthodontist’s Instructions
At the office of Brodie Bowman, DMD, we’ll make sure to give you special instructions on how to care for and wear your braces. The instructions regarding how to care and maintain braces will be tailored to your individual needs, so you should ensure that you observe these instructions to the letter. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Fort Walton Beach or Niceville.