Embedded Files
Taking Care of Teeth with Braces and Retainers
Taking Care of Teeth with Braces and Retainers
An orthodontic treatment is long and persistent. Once you have got the braces on, you are going to have to live with it for many months to come. What’s more challenging during an orthodontic treatment is to ensure proper dental hygiene on daily basis. Brushing and flossing become trickier practices. However, braces should not be an excuse for you to not brush and floss your teeth regularly.
In this article, we are going to talk about the ways to take care of your teeth with braces and retainers.
Tips to brush and flossing your teeth with braces
Tips to brush and flossing your teeth with braces
If you have braces and you have to floss, first you have to insert the short end of the floss through the space between main wire and the upper portion of the tooth close to the gums. Then you need to use gentle sawing motion to work the floss on each side of the two teeth. Make sure that you are not pulling flossing thread with too much force.
To brush your teeth, first use the regular brush with soft bristles. Brush from the top and then from the bottom of each tooth. Then, you are going to have to use a proxabrush. This brush is made specifically to the cleaning between two braces.
Foods that you have to avoid while wearing braces
Foods that you have to avoid while wearing braces
You are going to have to be very careful about the foods that you eat while wearing braces. As a general rule of thumb, you will have to eat the foods which can easily be chewed. And so, you are going to have to avoid certain foods such as:
- Hard to bite foods
- Chewy foods
- Corn on the cob
- Popcorn, nuts and carrots
Make sure that you are not chewing ice or bubble gum.
Caring for retainers
Caring for retainers
Every time you brush your teeth, brush your retainers too. However, do not use toothpaste to brush them. It is also very important to disinfect your retainers by soaking them in the denture cleanser.
Playing sports while wearing braces
Playing sports while wearing braces
The chances of injury are higher when you are playing sports while wearing braces and you do not have effective protection against the impacts. Here, you can consider using a specially designed mouth guard to protect your teeth and braces from getting a hit during the impact sports.
What to do if the brackets or wire break
What to do if the brackets or wire break
You have to avoid getting the wires or braces getting broken at all costs. But if it happens anyway, you need to immediately contact your dentist to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse