Taking care of your braces will make it more effective in achieving their purpose.
Though braces are installed to help with teeth alignment issues, not taking care of braces might lead to the formation of plaque that leads to other dental problems. This is because braces have tiny spaces that trap food. Taking care of your braces will make you more effective in achieving their purpose besides making the treatment duration comfortable. Here are some tips for spring cleaning your braces:
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Flossing
Smaller food particles and plaque brought about by stuck food particles are removed through flossing. Using a flossing tape might be a little tricky, instead, you may need to use interdental brushes or floss threaders. Keep in mind that applying too much pressure while doing this could damage the braces. Should your brackets become loose due to too much pressure, schedule an appointment with an orthodontic immediately.
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Perfect your brushing technique
Brushing of teeth is imperative, but it is especially so if you are wearing braces: it is recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal if you have braces. For this reason, you might have to carry a tube of toothpaste and brush in your bag at all times. With the use of a toothbrush with soft bristles, brush the gum line while holding it at a plane angle. Once done, hold it downwards to brush the top of the brackets and upward to clean the bottom.
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Avoid eating certain foods
Some foods are off-limits as and when you wear braces. Though your orthodontist will provide you with a list of this, it generally includes anything sticky, crunchy and hard. Sugary foods and certain drinks could cause permanent stains around your brackets which remain once they are removed.
Getting a perfect smile is the expected result if one is wearing braces and as such, you should do everything possible to achieve this. Regular cleaning and flossing as well as ensuring that you will not eat foods that stick to them are simple and effective ways of doing this. Should you have any dental inquiries, get in touch with us.
