Five Tips in Caring for Your Braces During an Orthodontic Treatment
In order for braces to do their job properly, which is to bring the teeth into healthy alignment, the patient needs to give them and him or herself the proper care. It’s true that braces can be uncomfortable, but they may be the best solution for children who might not have the type of mindfulness that is necessary for an alternative to braces like Invisalign. Here are five tips to care for braces:
1. Avoid foods that are chewy, sticky or both, like Turkish taffy. The foods to eat when wearing braces are soft and easy on the braces as well as the teeth. These include soups, custards and soft cheeses.
The patient should also not attempt foods that hurt to eat, and make sure that he or she eats slowly and with care.
2. An electric toothbrush is good to use when wearing braces, but it’s not strictly necessary. A regular brush with soft bristles is also a good tool to support good dental hygiene while wearing braces. The one difference between a person who wears braces and one who doesn’t is that he or she will need to brush after every meal. This means the wearer might need to pack a traveling toothbrush when he or she goes to school or work. Special attention should be paid to the spaces between the braces and the gums. Some people use a tool called a proxabrush, which is a small toothbrush that comes to a point and helps to clean the places between the gums and the wires in the braces.
3. Flossing is also a must for people who wear braces because it keeps the gums from becoming irritated and inflamed. Flossing does take a little longer when a person’s wearing braces, but it’s worth it in the long run.
4. It’s also crucial to visit the orthodontist regularly, like the we at Team Demas Orthodontics. The orthodontist can give the patient a thorough cleaning and check for any signs of decay that he or she may have missed. Not cleaning the patient’s teeth can leave white areas behind called white spot lesions where people can see where the braces were fixed to the teeth. That’s not something you’d want to see in those before and after braces photos!
5. If the person plays sports, he or she will need to wear a mouth guard if he or she didn’t wear one already. The orthodontist can let the wearer know what kind of mouth guard is best for him or her depending on the type of braces that are being worn. Mouth guards can be pre-formed or can be custom made for the patient’s mouth.
Residents of Southington shouldn’t hesitate to contact Team Demas Orthodontics if they feel that they or their children need braces or other devices that can align their teeth and give them that brilliant smile they’ve always wanted. Look up our website and set up a day for a consultation.
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
