The Do’s and Don’ts of Braces Care
What if a few small mistakes ended up costing you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars?
It may sound crazy, but this can happen when you don’t know how to take care of braces. However, when you’ve mastered the art of braces care, you’ll know exactly what you should (and shouldn’t) do.
Here are five useful tips for caring for braces.
Do: Careful Tooth Care
Brushing and flossing are always important. However, once you have braces, they become more important than ever.
Using a toothbrush with a soft head, try to brush after every meal whenever possible. Floss after every meal, too, and pay attention to gently flossing between your teeth and the braces wire.
Doing both of these diligently will keep food from sticking to your teeth and braces.
Don’t: Remove Elastic Bands
It’s no secret that everyone hates those elastic bands that come with your braces. However, it’s important that you never remove them unless your orthodontist has told you otherwise.
These bands are an important part of aligning your teeth. Trying to remove or adjust them can slow down the realignment process and may even risk injury to your mouth or the braces themselves.
Think of it this way: The longer you keep the bands on, the sooner you’ll be able to take the braces off!
Do: Rinse After Eating
Earlier, we mentioned the importance of brushing and flossing after every meal. That’s an important part of caring for braces, but it’s not always possible.
In a pinch, you can rinse with water after your meals. This is not as thorough at removing food particles (and not as healthy for your teeth as fluoride), but it’s better than doing nothing.
Between brushing and rinsing, you can make sure your teeth and braces stay clean after each meal.
Don’t: Eat Sticky Foods
Hopefully, your orthodontist gave you a handy list of foods you should try to avoid when you have braces. If that list doesn’t make it clear, remember this: whenever possible, avoid eating sticky foods.
This one should be pretty obvious. Since your ongoing mission is to avoid food sticking to your teeth and braces, you should avoid foods that are naturally sticky.
If you rely on sticky treats for your sweet fix, try to find alternatives that won’t get lodged in your teeth.
Do: Keep Going to the Orthodontist
The most important part of braces care is staying in touch with your orthodontist. Be sure to go to all of your appointments and notify your orthodontist as soon as you notice problems (like broken wires or loose bands).
And don’t hesitate to call your orthodontist if you are feeling any unexplained pain in your mouth. Your doctor is here to help you, and a quick call can spare you a lot of pain and save you a lot of money.
Braces Care: The Bottom Line
You know the importance of good orthodontic care for your braces. And you know how important it is that you take care of your braces. Even with the best care, however, things can go wrong. If they do, do not hesitate to call your orthodontist or one in your area—the most important thing is to get your braces fixed as soon as possible.
If you need to schedule an appointment or a checkup, contact us today. Our offices are conveniently located throughout the Milwaukee area, in the city of Milwaukee, Brookfield, and Racine.