People in today’s society place a high value on physical attractiveness. A beautiful appearance encompasses more than just healthy skin and hair. Everyone knows that a healthy, bright smile is the best accessory someone can wear. Thus, taking care of one’s teeth should be high on one’s list of priorities. A beautiful smile results from white, healthy teeth and proper bite alignment.
In a culture where straightening teeth with braces is commonplace, it’s crucial to maintain proper hygiene with the braces. Some options are metal, ceramic, lingual, self-aligning, and clear aligner braces. Maintaining the health and beauty of your teeth while wearing braces is essential.
Maintaining Teeth With Braces
Inadequate dental hygiene can result in several problems, but it can be especially problematic for those who wear braces because any damage to these aligners can result in a disruption of the orthodontic treatment plan. Following these guidelines can help you maintain good oral hygiene and prevent damage to your braces as you work toward a bright, healthy, properly aligned smile.
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Regular Brushing and Flossing
It’s common knowledge that we should brush and floss our teeth twice daily, but many of us probably don’t always follow this recommendation. Although these practices are essential anytime, they take on added significance while wearing braces. Brushing and flossing before bed, in the morning, and after every meal is vital.
Cavities and gingivitis can develop in teeth with braces because food gets stuck in the wires and brackets. The best strategy to prevent food from sticking to your teeth between meals is to brush and floss after each meal.
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Prevent Sticky and Hard-to-Chew Food
You don’t have to live on mashed potatoes and soup when you have braces Antigonish, but you should avoid anything sticky or difficult to chew. Sticky or crunchy foods might get caught in your braces and damage your teeth and orthodontic work.
Caramel, gummy sweets, hard pretzels, and popcorn are typical culprits. The orthodontist will provide a comprehensive list of off-limits foods to eat to avoid getting stuck in a tricky situation.
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Rinsing Often
Inflammation of the gums is a common side effect of having braces because of the body’s reaction to the metal brackets. Additionally, plaque builds up in the spaces between the brackets. While regular brushing and flossing are essential, mouth rinse can help maintain healthy gums and maintenance of Invisalign Grand Prairie, and get to spots where toothbrush bristles can’t go.
When you’re getting used to life with braces, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of rinsing your mouth with water after each meal. While it can’t completely replace brushing and flossing, rinsing with water after a meal will help remove some food particles and sugars that may have stuck to your teeth.
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Regular Dental Visits
You must keep all your scheduled appointments with your orthodontist while wearing braces. The initial placement of your braces is merely the beginning of a long process involving follow-up appointments for adjustments and upkeep.
Detecting early symptoms of cavities and gum disease and scheduling for wisdom teeth removal Hawkesbury, requires routine dental examinations. While braces are on, you can further protect your teeth from decay with fluoride treatments.
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Protect Mouth While Playing Sports
A mouthguard should be worn by everybody who plays sports, especially those who wear braces. When a patient athlete wears braces to reposition the teeth or realign the jaws, they need to use a mouth guard and other protective gear during organized and recreational sports to avoid or minimize dental and facial injuries.
Competitive physical activity, especially contact sports, without mouth protection could damage your orthodontic devices. If you play contact sports, like football, you should wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth from the force of a tackle.