How to get the most out of your braces

Posted by on 9 November 2018 | Comments

Getting the most out of your braces means keeping them in the best condition possible so they can continue to do their job. There’s a few steps you should know regarding how to clean your teeth, which foods to avoid, and how to take daily care of your braces to keep your teeth straightening journey on track. Here’s how to get the most out of your braces!

 

Avoid whitening products when you have braces

While you are wearing your braces, make sure you take a break from any whitening products and treatments. This includes whitening toothpaste, whitening mouthwash, and any tooth whitening products or treatments you previously entertained from the dentist. The whitening agents work on the surface of the teeth, so if areas are covered by brace brackets then these parts won’t whiten. The product can’t penetrate beneath the brackets, so when you come to having your braces removed you’ll have discoloured spots where the products couldn’t reach! It’s a very easy mistake to make, and you wouldn’t be the first or last patient to encounter it accidentally but remain vigilant on the whitening properties of your toothpastes!

 

How to clean your braces

  • Rinse your mouth with water before brushing – this will dislodge some of the chunkier food particles before you get stuck in with your toothbrush.
  • Use a spoolie-style toothbrush after regular brushing – these fit in between your wires and provide much more precise cleaning, helping to protect against gum disease and decay. These are widely available but speak to your orthodontist should you need any guidance!
  • Floss using special brace-friendly floss tools – these look like a plastic needle or lasso that hook the floss around your teeth. They help protect against gum disease, decay, and are widely available in most high-street stores.

 

You might also like braces do more than straighten your teeth.

 

Avoid foods that are bad for your braces

Try to steer clear of hard, crunchy, gooey, and sticky foods. Foods that threaten to get lodged in your braces, pull on the wires, and threaten their dislodging should be avoided because of the obvious. Broken wires and dislodged brackets could be sharp and cause a lot of discomfort to the soft tissues in your mouth, not to mention that they will require another appointment to fix!

 

Try to avoid:

  • Chewy foods: toffee, caramel, chewing gum, bagels
  • Crunchy foods: crusty bread, whole un-chopped apples and carrots
  • Hard foods: nuts, ice cubes

 

Why brushing your teeth is so important when you have braces

Brushing your teeth is always important, sure, but when you have braces it become even so. Fixed metal braces provide an uneven surface to your tooth, with different levels of brackets and wires. These differing surfaces mean that food can easily become lodged in difficult to clean places between brackets and wires. If this wayward food debris is removed, then there’s nothing to worry about. If this food debris is left to make itself at home, however, then it attracts bacteria to feast on it. These bacteria produce toxins that eat away at your protective enamel, weakened your teeth and threatening a cavity. When resting atop the gums they can also usher in the beginnings of gum disease. Brushing your teeth when you have braces is vitally important because the brace itself creates so many more nooks for food to become stuck in. Keep your teeth and brace healthy by brushing and flossing!

 

If you’re seeking advice on orthodontic treatment for you or perhaps your children, then our team are happy to help! Discover the benefits of braces in Rotherham today – enquire online or speak to a member of staff on 01709 382 047.