Life With Braces
It is important to remember to take care of your braces every day. Failure to do so can lead to delays in treatment and compromise the end result. The following are some braces tips.
Brushing and Flossing
By far the most important issue when braces are placed is to become a brushing expert. There can be drastic consequences when a patient fails to floss.
A 13-year-old patient with severe crowding. Wore braces for 24 months. Alignment is great, but look at some of the white staining on the teeth due to poor hygiene.
Brushing protocol
1. Brush at least 2 times per day with fluoride toothpaste.
a. If you want to step it up, buy the prescription strength fluoride toothpaste at Dental Town. This toothpaste has 4x the amount of fluoride found in regular toothpaste.
2. Floss once per day (water pik is ok)
3. Go in for professional cleanings at least every 6 months. Always say yes to fluoride
a. If you want to step it up, go in for cleanings every 3-4 months.
You should be spending between 5-7 minutes a day cleaning your teeth with braces on. One way to drastically reduce white spots is to choose Invisalign treatment. The orthodontist will let you know if you qualify for this treatment.
Eating with braces: There are certain foods that can cause damage to your braces and should be avoided. These include foods that are chewy, crunchy, sticky and hard to bite. On the other hand, there are many foods that are just fine to eat, including foods that are soft and easy to chew.
Soreness: Your mouth and teeth may feel a little sore when you first get your braces. This is normal and will go away soon! Rinsing your mouth with salt water or taking recommended medication can help ease the pain. If you continue to have severe pain, give our office a call so we can determine how to solve the problem.
Loose tooth: Patients often come in to the office flustered because they feel like their teeth are about to fall out. Because braces are constantly working to move your teeth into the proper position, there may be times when your teeth feel a little loose. Don't be alarmed as this is normal. As your teeth settle into their proper spot, the loose feeling will go away.
Loose wires and bands: If you notice that a wire or band has come loose, contact us for an appointment to repair your braces. In the meantime, it may be possible to gently push the wire back into place. Wax or a wet cotton ball can also be applied to areas where a wire may be poking out of place and irritating your cheek or gums.
Sports: It's safe to play sports while wearing braces, although we do recommend wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth. Give us a call if you need help finding a mouth guard that provides comfortable protection.
Proper Care: The more careful you are about taking care of your braces, the faster your treatment will be. When braces are damaged, they are not able to function properly, delaying the progress of your teeth movement. Please contact us immediately to schedule an appointment if your braces become damaged.