Good Oral Care Habits To Develop When You Have Braces
It will take visiting an orthodontist at least two times in order to get braces placed on your teeth, and while this is often an exciting event for most teenagers, it can also be an event that requires some changes in oral care habits. If you want to keep your teeth clean and healthy while wearing braces, you may need to develop and follow these three daily oral care habits.
Use the right tools to clean your teeth
The first thing to understand is that you may need to use different types of tools to clean your teeth while wearing braces. You should still brush your teeth like normal, but you may want to purchase a special type of toothbrush that is designed for braces. Secondly, you may want to purchase a special type of floss that works well for people with braces. You may also want to get in the habit of rinsing your mouth out with water after eating meals and snacks. If you currently do not use mouth wash, you may want to start. Mouth wash can be very helpful for loosening trapped bits of food and for freshening your breath.
Avoid the wrong foods
Eating right during the time you wear braces is a vital step in caring for your teeth and your braces. If you eat the wrong things, you take the risk of damaging your brackets. You should avoid all foods and candies that are chewy, hard, or extra crunchy. These types of foods could cause your brackets to come loose or even fall off. This includes avoiding popcorn, taffy, and gum.
Attend all your scheduled visits
When wearing braces, you will probably need to visit your orthodontist once a month until you get the braces off. Attending all of these visits is important, but it is also important to continue visiting your regular dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam. Each month when you visit the orthodontist, he or she will make any necessary adjustments to the components of your braces and will also make sure every component is securely attached. At dental visits, you can still get your teeth cleaned and examined, and this is vital if you want to keep your teeth clean and healthy during the time you are wearing braces.
If you have questions about caring for your teeth while wearing braces, talk to an orthodontist or dentist, such as Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.