When you get your braces, you should expect to wear them for a while. According to Healthline, that’s going to be 24 months on average. You’re not only going to have to make regular visits to the orthodontist for routine tightening of the wire, you need to make sure you maintain good oral health so that you have strong teeth to show off your new smile with at the end. Here’s how you can do that!
Brush Properly
When you first look at your mouth with your braces on, you might wonder how you’re going to do this properly. How can you do this without damaging the brackets? There are specific orthodontic toothbrushes that you can buy online for the same price as the normal ones. They have a differently shaped head that allows you to reach parts of your braces. Then there are tiny ones that you can use to get between the brackets and clear out any excess food. Your orthodontist can also give you tips on what to do.
Floss Frequently
You might think getting braces might make it too hard to floss. The orthodontic industry has created floss that’s easy to thread between teeth, so you can get rid of any food particles that might get stuck. Braces won’t be an excuse for you to abandon flossing. Don’t be afraid to ask your orthodontist for tips.
Rinse Your Mouth
Food particles can be stubborn. You brush, you floss, and there is one tiny piece left. Fortunately, rinsing with mouthwash can help get rid of that pesky invader. This last step allows you to cover all your bases and continue on with clean teeth and braces!
Watch What You Eat
You’re not going to be able to eat the same things that you did before you had braces. That means avoiding sticky foods or treats that can get stuck between the braces like taffy. The same goes for hard foods, like nuts, ice cubes, and hard candies. They can damage both your braces and your teeth.
Keep Seeing Your Dentist
You need to have a dental professional regularly look at your teeth. According to Colgate, this should be every six months. This way, they can spot any issues with your oral health, whether it’s a cavity or a buildup of plaque, and the twice-yearly visits usually mean they can catch anything in its early, reversible stage.
Act Quickly If Something Goes Wrong
Braces are made of extremely durable material, and they are bonded by strong adhesives that keep them in place. The wires that run through the brackets are also tough. But things happen. A wire can break. A bracket can loosen. When that occurs, you need to get to the orthodontist’s office as quickly as possible. Whether you’ve got your braces in Burwood or elsewhere, it’s a good idea to return to the same clinic to ensure a proper fit. Otherwise, there’s the risk of a major setback in both straightening your teeth and your oral hygiene, since it can be tough to brush with a wire sticking out of your mouth.
Prioritize Aftercare
It can be easy to relax your routine after your braces are removed. You went through all the effort, went to all your appointments, and now you can take your foot off the gas pedal, right? Wrong. You want to keep your brand-new smile, don’t you? That means you need to keep up with your strong brushing and flossing habits and avoid foods that can damage your teeth. Keep seeing your dentist every six months. As you get older or due to circumstances after your braces are removed, you might need to get a dental bridge for a missing tooth. According to Weekend Dentistry, if you take good care of it, you can expect it to last up to 15 years.
There’s no denying that it can be challenging to maintain your oral health while you have braces on, but it only requires a bit more effort than if you weren’t wearing them. Spend those extra couple of minutes focusing on your brushing routine, and you’ll like the results.