How to Look After Your Braces

With orthodontists reporting an increase in adults seeking treatment for tooth straightening, it is no surprise that braces are becoming a common facial feature. Braces, like teeth, require the proper care and maintenance to ensure they don’t break or damage your teeth underneath. Here are some tips to keep your braces as good as new. 

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Oral hygiene with braces

The normal rules apply when it comes to brushing your teeth – twice a day for two minutes each. However, you must be gentler around the braces themselves so you don’t damage or weaken the brackets on your teeth. 

You will not be able to floss using the traditional string as your braces will get in the way. Instead, consider using a whitening water flosser to get the debris in between your teeth. This will help to keep them free from plaque. 

Mouthwash is a good oral habit to have if you don’t have braces, but it should be a step you make sure you do with braces, too. Again, this will help to flush out any remaining bits of food from behind your braces and between your teeth. 

Diet and eating habits

Unfortunately, any foods that are chewy or hard should be avoided when you have braces. This would be items such as chewing gum, sweets, chocolates with toffee or nuts, and even hard fruits such as apples. This is because these foods could break your braces, which could delay your treatment by up to a month. 

Fizzy drinks can cause decay on all teeth, but it is more of an issue when you have braces, as there are areas you may struggle to brush effectively. Therefore, it is best to avoid these as much as possible. 

Managing discomfort and emergencies 

There are times when your braces will become uncomfortable, such as when you first get them fitted or tightened. This discomfort usually occurs between 4 and 6 hours after treatment and should last no more than a week. Take Ibuprofen to keep the pain to a minimum, and stick to soft foods until you feel comfortable. 

The wires in your braces can break and come loose. If this happens, you may feel it rubbing on the inside of your mouth. If this is not causing any pain, then you can wait until your next appointment to bring it up. However, if it does cause pain, call your dentist for an appointment. 

Brackets can fall off, so be careful not to swallow them if this does happen. Again, this does not need to be an emergency unless there is pain. Just keep the bracket safe until your next appointment.

Repeated breakages could be an indication that you are not taking care of your braces well enough. The largest cause of breaking braces is down to diet, so be mindful of what you eat. 

If you regularly play contact sport, it is recommended that you wear a mouth guard to protect your braces from any impacts. However, you will need a custom moulded one. The ones in the shops, however, are not suitable as they may stick to your braces and cause damage. Your dentist will be able to recommend a suitable product. 

This is a collaborative post.