Maintaining Your Orthodontic Braces

Correcting dental misalignments with traditional metal braces imposes some restrictions on you while also forcing you to adopt some best practices to benefit from the treatment. It is essential to develop healthy oral hygiene routines while also consuming a proper diet.

If you don’t take proper care of your teeth, you damage the metal braces resulting in a disruption of your treatment and orthodontic treatment discomfort. If you or a family member is undergoing orthodontic treatment to correct misalignments, here are some tips for appropriately caring for the metal braces.

Choosing The Recommended Toothpaste, Floss, and Mouth Rinse

Your orthodontist recommends the best variety of toothpaste, floss, and mouth rinse to eliminate bacteria that may lead to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Some brands of dental health products contain abrasive ingredients detrimental to your metallic braces. When you select dental floss, you must choose a variety fitting ideally between your teeth and along the wires of the brackets.

Using mouthwash is an excellent idea if you want to have a fresh breath. However, you must select brands that don’t have bright red or green dyes capable of discoloring the metal and removable elastics of the braces. Ensure that you follow your orthodontist’s instructions on the recommendations about the type of products you can use to keep your braces in optimal condition.

Brushing Your Teeth for Food and Debris Removal

Brushing your teeth with metal braces is not similar to regular brushing. You must exercise caution to avoid breaking the metal wires or dislodging the brackets even as you remove all the food particles in your teeth. Using a toothbrush with softer bristles friendlier to braces is beneficial. However, remember to use gentle pressure while brushing your teeth. Follow the steps mentioned below when brushing with braces to achieve a sparkling smile without harming the dental appliance.

• Remove loose food debris from your mouth by rinsing it with water.
• Next, hold the toothbrush at an angle along the gums to remove food collecting in the area.
• Food debris remains on the brackets and is comfortably removed by using the angled motion from the top side of the brackets.
• Hold the toothbrush at an angle against the bottom of the brackets and brush upward.
• Remove bacteria from all your teeth, brushing them from the front and back.

You must rinse your mouth with water throughout the day for additional food particle removal collecting in your teeth and braces while snacking or meals.

Flossing

After you purchase the recommended dental floss by your orthodontist, you must use the tool at least once a day. Flossing by using the proper technique prevents problems like tooth decay and bad breath. In addition, if you are frequently on the go carrying a floss container with you helps to remove any food particles stuck between your teeth or on the braces.

An Oral Irrigator Helps Clean Your Teeth and Braces Effectively

You must invest in an oral irrigator for additional plaque and food particle removal. An oral irrigator is a tiny appliance allowing you to fill its tank with water before use. A wand emits water from the device’s tank with moderate pressure to dislodge food, bacteria, and plaque from your gums, teeth, and braces. This appliance is a comfortable technique for supplementing your oral hygiene instead of avoiding brushing and flossing. You can use the oral irrigator once a week, depending on the instructions of your orthodontist.

Choosing Your Diet Carefully

When you are wearing braces, your teeth, gums, and alveolar bone require many nutrients. Having a proper diet is incredibly essential for children and teenagers who are growing rapidly. However, there are some foods to avoid with braces to protect the wires and brackets. After installing the metal braces, your orthodontist provides an entire list of foods you must avoid, including the following.

• Hard nuts like almonds or walnuts are detrimental to the brace’s wires and can break them.
• Sticky candies like caramel or candy are restricted.
• Hard kernels of popcorn can also damage your braces.
• Fibrous vegetables are a terrible choice when wearing orthodontic braces.
• Tough meat like steaks or pork chops is better avoided when undergoing treatment with metal braces.

You must follow your orthodontist’s instructions after installing your braces and stick to a diet of soft foods that will not irritate your gums, tongue, or palate. Your mouth becomes accustomed to the appliance after a few days as you follow your orthodontist’s suggested diet.

Treatment with metal braces undoubtedly imposes some restrictions on you when trying to deliver the best outcomes from the therapy. However, consider the restrictions as a method to achieving a beautiful smile and not a punishment for attempting to correct your misaligned teeth.