Braces may have come a long way since you were a kid with all the technological advances. But still, the biggest complaint is that braces make it difficult to clean your teeth. Yet it’s necessary that you put extra effort into keeping your teeth healthy because if you don’t practice good oral hygiene while wearing your braces, you could end up with serious issues like dental disease. There are a few ways to make sure your teeth remain decay-free.
Wearing braces will mean you’ll need to get out of your normal oral care routine and pay more attention to your brushing. A layer of tiny food particles and bacteria, known as plaque, clings to your teeth after you eat. If you don’t clean your teeth properly, over time, you may develop gum (periodontal) disease. Teeth become weak and will develop white spots; these spots will remain on your teeth after your braces are gone. Plaque is very sneaky and hides in your wires, bands and brackets. Brushing as soon as you can after each meal will help thwart plaque build-up.
Your normal toothbrush may not be getting the job done when it comes to removing all the bits of food in your braces. So you’ll need to add another brush to your regimen called an interproximal or interdental toothbrush. This nylon brush is great for getting food off your braces and teeth. It should be used after two minutes of regular brushing. Simply put the interdental brush bristles between your wire and teeth and slide it up and down to clean the brackets, teeth and archwire.
Don’t forget to use a floss threader to help with flossing your lower and upper teeth and gum line. Move the floss back and forth along the surface of and in between your teeth to clean them. A water flosser is also a terrific option for all the hard-to-reach areas. What’s a water flosser? It’s an electric flosser that gently sprays water to loosen and remove plaque from braces and in between teeth—it can actually feel quite refreshing!
No doubt, you’ll get a list from your orthodontist of what you can’t eat while wearing braces. High on that list are things like pretzels, popcorn seeds (or any hard seed), nuts and any kind of chewy food such as gummy bears, taffy and caramel. Chewing on gum and ice are big no-no’s, too. Eating any of these foods will break or damage your braces, causing you to need repair and wear them longer than you intended.
But don’t despair! The list of foods you can enjoy is a lot longer—and, yes, fully popped popcorn is on the list. Just keep in mind you’ll need to brush and floss immediately after eating it. Other things such as oatmeal, fruit bars, grapes, yogurt and bananas are on the “good” list, too. It’s also a good idea to slice veggies and other fruits into bite-sized pieces so that you can just pop them in your mouth. Biting into something like a carrot stick or whole apple can damage your braces.
If you get a craving for something sweet, cakes, cookies, a plain chocolate bar, pies, and ice cream (without nuts) are fine in moderation.
So you’ve brushed and flossed, that’s enough, right? Well, it may not be. There might still be stubborn bits of food that just don’t want to budge. Using a fluoride mouthwash will definitely help—and you’ll have fresh breath as well as the knowledge of having protection against plaque build-up.
It’s essential that you maintain your schedule for regular check-ups. Every 3-6 months, your orthodontist will want to tighten your braces, make other adjustments and inspect your brushing and flossing. Of course, if you’re having a problem with your braces in between check-ups—like a band falling out or a wire poking into the inside of your mouth—you’ll need to schedule a visit to get it fixed.
When you’re wearing braces keeping plaque-free gums and teeth won’t be easy. Yet, with the proper tools, extra effort on your part and your orthodontist’s help, your mouth will be healthy the entire time you wear braces.
If you’ve got questions or need more tips about keeping your teeth and gums healthy while undergoing orthodontic treatment, feel free to contact us!
