Care For Your Braces

Braces are the best option when it comes to straightening your teeth and fixing any underlying issues. Whenever we have patients who need braces themselves or their children, they often worry about the maintenance and taking care of braces. Well maintaining the braces and taking care of them is easy and simple if done regularly.

It is never too soon nor too late to include good oral habits in your routine. Especially for children, the sooner they form a habit of good oral hygiene the better.

Firstly let us understand, why it's important to take care of your braces. During braces treatment the desired brackets (Metal, Ceramic) are placed on the teeth. If you don’t follow a proper oral hygiene routine or don’t brush using proper techniques, food particles might get stuck in between your teeth and the braces and start causing stains, plaques deposits, or even cavities. This can also lead to gum diseases.

Now that you know why it is important to take special care of your braces let us learn how you can take care of them.

Brushing your teeth regularly and using the right techniques can help prevent staining and keep your braces and teeth clean. It is usually recommended to brush after every meal. You should at least brush your teeth twice a day for a minimum of two minutes. To make sure all your teeth and braces are clean follow the brushing techniques below:

• Use light circular motions while brushing the teeth to prevent any damage to the braces.
• Begin brushing from the top of the brace/bracket and aim right towards the tooth. Also, brushing in a circular motion is recommended.
• Properly clean the area under the brace/bracket using a dental floss to ensure proper cleaning.

Flossing can help remove the food particles that are stuck in between your teeth. You can ask your dentist to explain the proper techniques to floss while having braces.

Following a proper diet while undergoing braces is very important, as some of the food can be harmful to your teeth and braces. While undergoing braces treatment you should avoid foods that are hard, chewy, and sticky such as candies, and popcorn You should also avoid sugaring foods and drinks as they can lead to cavities.

As part of your braces treatment, you will have to visit your dentist multiple times for the adjustments of braces, follow-ups, etc. Ask about the doubts and queries that you have related to your treatment and get the best possible results.

At My smile dental clinic, we have a team of skilled professionals who can help you answer all your questions related to braces and How you can take the best care of your teeth and your braces.