Everyone’s teeth and jaws are unique. Therefore, it’s only natural that your braces treatment plan and appliances are tailored for you.
There are 2 types of appliances: fixed and removable. The former (e.g brackets/wires) are fixed on your teeth at all times, while the latter (e.g. elastics) are to be worn when required.
The length of treatment is dependent on your orthodontic problem, compliance to treatment and whether you need other treatment as well.
Here’s a quick guide to caring for your braces and maintaining good oral health!
Challenge 1: Discomfort from Braces
One of the challenges of having braces is the discomfort that comes along with it. You may experience irritation in two areas.
It is common to feel pain and pressure in your teeth after the initial placement of your braces and after each tightening. To relieve the pain, you are advised to adopt a soft food diet.
Before braces, your lips and mouth were rubbing against smooth teeth. But with the placement of the braces, you may start to feel tenderness and experience some irritation to your lips, cheeks and tongue.
To alleviate the sensitivity, your dentist may recommend you to use orthodontic wax to help your lips adapt to the braces better.
Challenge 2: Food Deposits May Lead To Cavities
The next challenge comes in when consuming food.
Braces have small ledges, nooks and crannies that can cause food to deposit. If not cleaned promptly and thoroughly, this can lead to cavities and gum problems. This makes brushing and flossing with the right technique even more important.
How to Brush Teeth with Braces
To fight cavities, ensure that you use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth after each meal and before going to bed. We may also prescribe a fluoride mouth rinse to help prevent cavities.
Before you begin brushing your teeth, remove any elastics (if applicable). You may also want to use an electric toothbrush as it promotes better oral hygiene for patients with braces.
The last step is to brush your tongue to remove unwanted mouth bacteria and prevent bad breath.
Thereafter, rinse your mouth thoroughly and check your teeth in the mirror. It should be clean and shiny!
If you’re not sure whether they’re really clean, you can choose to chew a plaque disclosing tablet (optional). Any remaining plaque will appear coloured and you can remove it easily with a bit more brushing.
How to Floss with Braces
Aside from brushing your teeth, it’s also important to floss as it effectively removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line (areas where a toothbrush can’t reach).
Eating with Braces
While you’re wearing braces, you can eat almost all your favourite foods. However, these are the 4 types of foods that you should avoid.
Sticky foods such as toffee, caramel and mints can potentially bend or break your wires. Instead, you’re advised to go for soup, yogurt or smooth peanut butter instead.
Hard foods such as apples and carrots should be cut into bite-sized pieces to prevent breaking your appliances.
Crunchy foods like corn, nuts or crabs should be avoided. It’s best to take softer foods and consume them in small pieces. Also, avoid chewing on meat bones as this may break your wires.
Eating sweets increases the risk of developing cavities. If you do eat them, be sure to brush your teeth immediately. Ice cream should also be consumed in moderation as they can cause the cement under the bands to break.
Maintaining Oral Health with Braces
With these best practices and tips, you should be able to maintain optimum oral health during your braces journey!
