How to Take Care of Braces

Wearing braces requires a significant amount of responsibility in terms of proper care for both the braces and your teeth. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial now more than ever to ensure your teeth remain healthy, free from disease, and pain-free. If you have recently gotten braces or are planning to, here are some tips for taking care of them.

Proper Cleaning

Metal frames of braces and teeth can easily trap plaque, food particles, and bacteria. As a result, flossing and brushing require more precision due to this new barrier. When brushing with braces, position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to effectively clean around the wires and pins. It is advisable to do this at least twice daily or after every meal, as recommended by dental experts. Be cautious when removing food debris, as it might pull on the braces and cause them to detach from the tooth.

Flossing is essential when you have braces, as a lot can get lodged between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Floss daily to maintain oral health and eliminate built-up plaque and food particles. There are various flossing tools available that can navigate between the wires of your braces. Flossing tape and threaders can be found in pharmacies or provided by your orthodontist or dentist to facilitate the process.

Foods to Avoid

To maintain the integrity of your braces, it's essential to completely avoid certain foods that could cause damage or detachment. Foods such as popcorn, chewing gum, nuts, sticky candies, tough meats, and hard items like whole, raw fruits and vegetables can become lodged in your braces, cause discomfort in your gums and jaw, or even damage the braces themselves.

Dark-colored drinks like coffee, tea, and wine can stain the visible surfaces of your teeth if not thoroughly removed by brushing. Since part of your tooth is covered by the braces, that area won't be stained, leading to discoloration once the braces are taken off. It's best to either avoid these beverages altogether or brush your teeth after drinking them.

If you habitually bite your nails or chew on pencils and other hard objects, you'll need to stop, as this can also harm your braces.

Regular Dental Visits

You can discuss any problems you may be having or any future concerns during an orthodontic/ dental visit. This is also where your orthodontist should properly clean your teeth and adjust your braces. You’ll probably feel a tightness in your mouth or pain in your teeth after an adjustment. This is normal, as your teeth are being pulled unnaturally. The pain shouldn’t last for more than a day or two, but if it gets worse or lasts for a while, contact your orthodontist.

Regular check-ups with your orthodontist don’t replace visiting your dentist. Regular check-ups are necessary to make sure you haven’t developed any cavities or show signs of gum disease. At Lux Dental our highly experienced staff dedicated to making you comfortable and relaxing during your visit. Located in Vancouver, BC, we provide treatment plans that are customized specifically for you. With services that include general cleaning, whitening, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Invisalign, dental implants and more, call or go online to book your appointment.