11 Best Tips to Care For Your Dental Braces

Dental braces are meant to correct dental misalignment. If you or your family member is undergoing orthodontic treatment with metal braces, then these are the 11 best tips to care for your dental braces. You should follow a healthy oral hygiene routine always as well as with braces.. There are a few restrictions and best practices one should follow to have the best outcome of orthodontic treatment. If you don’t take proper care of your teeth, you can damage your metal braces which lead to disruption of orthodontic treatment.

Dental braces can correct your misaligned and disfigured teeth and can enhance your looks. This will happen not only by getting the braces but also proper care of braces is needed to ensure smooth and successful treatment. One thing which is as significant as your orthodontic appointment is caring for your braces.

Before getting dental braces, you should know the particular dental problem, types of braces, their cost, and how to take care of your braces.

Dental Braces Care Routine

1. Brushing Twice Daily To Remove Food Debris

Brushing twice daily is an integral part of oral hygiene and with braces, it becomes more important. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush your teeth twice or thrice per day for two minutes. Be careful while brushing so that you don’t damage brackets and wires on your braces. It is an ideal and the best tip to brush after every meal so that there is no trapped food around your braces.

With your toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, start brushing at the top using a circular motion and move the toothbrush across each tooth carefully. Spend around 10 seconds on each tooth, and brush above the wires too to get any trapped food out. Remember to brush the inside of your teeth, the back of your mouth, and your gum line. Clean your tongue too. Rinse your mouth with water throughout the day to remove additional food that sticks in your teeth and braces when you are eating snacks or meals.

2. Floss Daily

Brushing won’t completely remove the food particles stuck between your teeth. Floss can easily remove the tiny food debris which can cause serious damage to your teeth. It prevents tooth decay and bad breath. Flossing once a day preferably before bedtime should be done with a floss threader. Floss threaders are specially designed for people with braces to make flossing easier for you. Your dentist can tell you how to use dental floss effectively.

3. Mouthwash

Brushing and flossing are all done, now you need to rinse your teeth with fluoride mouthwash. It easily gets into the crevices and cracks in your teeth and into the wires and brackets of your braces. Rinsing daily with fluoride mouthwash promotes oral and dental hygiene. It is an excellent idea to use a mouthwash, but you must choose a brand that doesn’t have green or red dyes as it can discolor the metallic braces as well as the elastics. Using mouthwash is one of the best tips to take care of your dental braces.

4. Use a water flosser or an air flosser

You can use either water or air type of flosser to remove additional plaque and food particles from your teeth and braces. Mouthwash is added to the flossers to improve the cleaning process and to give a fresh sensation. They are very effective for teeth with braces as they promote healthy dentition and gums. It is an easy way to augment your oral health, rather than avoid flossing or brushing.

5. Use Dental Wax to Relieve Pain

Braces can cause pain as they touch the oral mucosa. Apply dental wax on your braces as it creates a barrier between braces and your mouth. It will prevent further injury and relieves pain. If the wax is swallowed accidentally, there is nothing to worry about, it’s not at all poisonous.

6. Check for damages to the mirror

Have a look in the mirror to confirm whether there is any damage to your braces or not. If there is any damage, consult your orthodontist immediately.

7. Don’t use your teeth as tools

It is advisable not to use your teeth as tools, and it becomes more important with braces on. Do not chew hard things like pens, apples, carrots, or ice or bite your nails as they can cause damage to your braces. Parents should guide their kids on this.

8. Choose your diet judiciously

Certain foods are restricted when you wear braces to make the orthodontic treatment effective. These foods are:

• Popcorn and corn chips
• Pizza crusts and hard crusty bread
• Apples, oranges, lemon, and carrots
• Gummy bears or chewing gums
• Candies like caramel or sticky candy bars
• Soda
• Highly processed foods
• Nuts like almonds, walnuts
• Tough meat

You should eat soft food in the initial days of installation of braces to take care of them. After a few days, your mouth will be accustomed to your dental braces.

9. Protect dental braces while playing sports

Wear a mouth guard while playing sports to protect your braces, gums, and teeth. Athletes are more likely to have a dental injury when not wearing a mouth guard. Consult your orthodontist or dentist to get a mouth guard that is suitable for you.

Keep your teeth and appliances safe.

10. Wear your retainers after treatment

When you are done with the treatment, wear your retainers. We will make a custom-fit retainer for you and will guide you on how often to wear it to make sure that your teeth stay in their new position.

11. Always listen to your orthodontist

If there is any problem with your braces, consult your orthodontist immediately. Orthodontic emergencies include loose brackets, issues with wires, missing rubber bands, irritation due to rubbing, or any injury to the face or mouth. It is important that you should listen to the advice and tips given by the dentist and follow them up. Visit your dentist regularly on every appointment.

Conclusion

No matter how long you wear your dental braces, the results will be more successful if you follow all the instructions and advice given by your dentist. These tips to take care of your dental braces are very effective in maintaining your fantastic smile forever. If you have any questions or concerns regarding orthodontic treatment, don’t hesitate to contact Shubham dental clinic and discuss the various available options with us.

We offer clear braces, metal braces, and clear aligners, so you can choose the one that makes you feel the most confident. We ensure that you keep smiling from start to finish during the whole journey of dental braces treatment.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Rinku Mittal today!

Dr. Rinku Mittal