If your teeth are crooked, it may not be easy to always feel good in your own skin. Braces can make your smile straight and beautiful. However, when you do get braces, you must make sure that you take good care of them. This way, you can rest assured that you'll get the results you want and won't have to extend your treatment. Read on to discover five tips for caring for your braces.
Brush Your Teeth (and Braces) Twice a Day
Brushing is not only good for your teeth, but it is also essential for your braces. When you have braces, you need to consistently follow a healthy oral hygiene routine. This helps to ensure that no decay will happen. Also, it helps to keep your braces shiny and new all the time.
It is recommended to use a soft-bristle toothbrush when you have braces. Additionally, you must make sure to brush in a circular motion. There are also some orthodontic toothbrushes that you can buy. These are more suited for brushing when you have braces. They are generally easier to use than regular brushes. A lot of people who have braces also report that electric toothbrushes are the best when it comes to maintaining braces.
Use an Orthodontic Flossing Tool
Flossing your teeth is very effective for removing leftover foods. It is also quite important to do when you have
braces. This is because food tends to get lodged between the metal wires used to make the braces. A toothbrush alone might not effectively remove this food.
The best thing you can do when you have braces is to invest in a water-powered flossing machine. This machine utilizes high water pressure to get in between the teeth even when you have braces. For those who can't afford this tool, there are other options. You can also get an orthodontic flossing tool. This one is designed specifically for individuals with braces. Ask your orthodontist where you can get this tool so that you can always keep your braces clean.
Avoid Chewy Foods
When you have braces, you will also have to adjust your diet a little. It might be hard to give up some of those foods you love, but it's worth it. For instance, it's usually not advisable to chew gum or eat popcorn, caramels, and gummy bears. These chewy foods are not a good idea when you have braces.
When you eat these types of food with braces on, they can easily damage your braces by breaking wires. They also tend to loosen brackets and add more time to your treatment than necessary. With loose wires, your braces will not be as effective at doing their job. It's therefore advisable to stay away from these hard, crunchy, and sticky foods. It is also recommended to stay away from the ice, nuts, and hard candy.
Don't Skip Orthodontic Appointments
Since your orthodontist is the one who fits braces onto your teeth, they are the best person to know whether something needs to be fixed or not. It is therefore important to ensure that you don't miss any of your appointments with them.
Missing appointments will only extend the time it takes to straighten your teeth. As a result, you will be wearing those braces for longer than you should. Make sure you attend all appointments so you can achieve that gorgeous and perfectly straight smile in record time. It's advisable to inform the orthodontist if you have to reschedule an appointment to a later date. Even if you reschedule, make sure you don't push the date more than a month from when you were initially supposed to go.
Follow the Instructions Provided by Your Orthodontist
To achieve a beautiful and perfectly straight smile, make sure you care for your braces properly. If you don't know how, ask your orthodontist and do your research. If anything is happening that you don't understand, inform your orthodontist so they can fix the braces as soon as possible.
If you're wearing braces, it is important that you do everything you can to ensure that they will give you the best result possible. Keep your teeth clean, take the time to floss, avoid certain foods, attend your orthodontic appointments, and listen to your orthodontist so that you can have a perfect smile when you get your braces removed.
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