This is necessary because during this period, the teeth need special attention to protect them from degradation, staining and gum disease. Precautions should also be taken to avoid damage to the dental appliance. For example, it is recommended to avoid eating gummy or sticky sweets.
Dr. Andra Custura, a dentist, tells us the four most important tricks to keep our teeth healthy while wearing braces.
1. Although brushing twice a day is the standard recommendation of oral care, when you wear braces, you should wash after every meal – even after small snacks. This is important because food particles get trapped easily in the dental appliance and the longer they are left on the teeth, the greater the risk of developing dental problems. It is recommended to use a soft toothbrush with round bristles or an electric toothbrush.
“Start by rinsing your mouth with water to collect blocked food on your braces. It is important to brush each tooth at the gum line and both above and below the braces. Brush the gum line first by holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle. Rinse again after brushing, to remove all food debris, “says Dr. Andra Custura.
2. Floss at least once a day. Make sure it fits under your teeth, but also under your braces. To clean more easily under the wires, there is a special device that can be bought from the pharmacy. Wax floss is easier to use than normal floss, because it slides between your teeth and can clean areas that are harder to reach when wearing braces. If you have more space between your teeth, you can use an interdental brush, which penetrates between the teeth and works better than regular floss.
3. Another option for hard to reach areas is an oral irrigator. Its pulsating water flow can remove plaque and food debris between your teeth and braces. Also, don’t forget to rinse at the end with a special mouthwash. All this leads to good oral hygiene and prevents cavities and tooth loss.
4. When wearing braces, you need to be more careful about what you eat. If you eat too many foods that contain sugar and starch, dental plaque will form along the dental appliance, which can cause teeth to stain, causing cavities or gum disease. You should especially avoid sticky and chewy foods, such as dried fruit, caramel, caramels, boiled corn and chewing gum, as all of these can become blocked and difficult to remove from the dental appliance.
“Solid foods are another category that should be avoided. Walnuts, popcorn and beef can break floss and weaken the dental appliance. Even healthy foods, such as apples and raw carrots, can cause problems because their texture can damage the hair. In order to eat crunchy foods, you have to cut them into pieces and the bite should be small ”, says the specialist.
If you are caught without a toothbrush, rinse your mouth vigorously with plain water or mouthwash and brush as soon as possible.
Also, if the brace or floss irritates the inside of the lips, you can place a special wax on them to prevent this. You can buy this wax from pharmacies or simply ask your dentist or orthodontist and you will get the best advice.
–
