When you are wearing braces, you unfortunately can't eat the things you would normally eat or drink the things you would normally drink because you have a mouth full of metal brackets and wires. If you have braces, there are things you are going to need to do differently in order to keep your teeth and mouth healthy, as well as to keep your braces in good shape. Read on for a few orthodontic tips.
1. Eat And Drink Properly
There are some foods and drinks you should stay away from, as they can potentially cause a problem for your teeth or for your braces. Avoid drinks that can stain your teeth such as caffeinated beverages, juice, or other sugary drinks. Avoid eating food that is hard or sticky, especially foods that are can be hard on your braces such as corn on the cob or apples. You can eat corn and you can eat apples, but it's best to cut corn off of the cob and cut up apples to eat them.
2. Brush, Floss, And Rinse
You're going to need to take extra care of your teeth when you have braces. Stains can occur easily and food particles can accumulate on your teeth if you don't brush properly, as the food can get caught in between the brackets. Be sure you are brushing for at least 2 minutes twice per day and you are also flossing and using a mouth rinse to help remove food particles and plaque buildup. Rinsing your mouth out can also help with bad breath, which can also occur when you have braces.
3. Listen To Your Orthodontist
Listen to everything your orthodontist tells you to do. You need to make it to all of your appointments for regular checkups and for adjustments to your braces and wiring. This is how your teeth are going to straighten; if you miss these appointments, it's more time added to your brace-wearing time. Be sure you do everything your orthodontist instructs you to do, including wearing rubber bands the proper way.
If you have braces, you need to take the extra time to care for your teeth and your braces. If you aren't taking care of your teeth or your braces, you could do damage to your teeth and to your braces, in addition to needing to wear your braces for that much longer, which can be a big increase in cost as well. Talk to your orthodontist about other tips that can help you.
If you are tired of coming down with dental problems, the problem might not be your toothpaste. Instead, it could be your habits tied to your dental care. Aggressive brushers, people who have a tendency to forget, and even people who are flossing improperly could be left with serious dental issues, which is why it really pays to focus on mastering the small things. From moving forward with a better brushing routine to doing what you can to identify and resolve ongoing decay, making your dental health a priority is instrumental in preventing pain and added budgetary strains. Check out this blog to find out more.