Taking care of braces is important so your child doesn’t have to wear them longer than necessary.
Here are some great tips for protecting your investment in your child’s dental health and future confidence:
Be Careful What You Eat
Avoid consuming hard, chewy, or sticky foods. Examples of food to avoid are caramels, hard pretzels, hard candies, popcorn, carrots, and apples. Stick with softer foods like yogurt, watermelon, bread, rice, etc. that are easy to consume and break down easily.
Also, watch what goes into the mouth. Warn your child not to bite their nails, chew on pencils, or break ice in their mouth while they have braces on. All of these hard items can wear down braces after a while.
Protect the Braces
Fortunately, children can still wear braces while playing sports. Just make sure that they are wearing a mouthguard while playing sports. This will help prevent injuries to teeth and other parts of the mouth. Also be sure that your child keeps their bands on, removing them only while eating meals or consuming snacks.
Keep Up with the Regular Dental Hygiene
It’s always a good idea to brush your teeth and floss on a regular basis. It’s even more important to do so when wearing braces. People who wear braces are more prone to cavities and swollen gums. Here are a few tips to avoid these unpleasant side effects:
- Buy soft-bristled toothbrushes for your child to avoid damage to wires and brackets.
- Ask your child to brush more often to remove plaque and food around teeth.
- Use floss daily with a threader to remove food and other build-ups between their teeth and their braces.
To find out more about proper care of braces or to schedule an appointment, contact Schmitt Orthodontics today!
