Taking care of dental braces can sometimes require more than just regular oral and dental hygiene. You may need to stand in front of the mirror for a longer time and clean each brace thoroughly. For other wearers, looking after braces may mean avoiding certain foods. Caring for your braces will save you unexpected visits to the dentist and maintenance costs.
One of the most important things to remember is to clean your dental braces several times a day. Especially during and after mealtimes, bits of food can get stuck in the wires or in the brace itself. Food particles can react with the metallic braces, specifically acidic food that can affect the metal. Your gums and teeth can even be infected with the lingering germs from the food. For a more thorough cleaning, ask your dentist for a Proxabrush®, which is a smaller toothbrush that can easily go between each brace.
Flossing is also one way of taking care of your braces, as brushing alone may not remove the smaller particles of food. There are dental flosses made specifically for braces, with one end being stiff so inserting it in between the braces is easier. Brace floss is also extra-woolly to make for a thorough cleaning in between both the braces and the teeth.
Dentists sometimes recommend their patients avoid certain foods. Those that are hard and crispy, such as carrots, apples, pretzels, and even ice, can exert damaging force on the dental braces and break them. Even rubbery foods like gum, soft candies, and gummy worms should be eaten with utmost caution. Sticky and chewy foods such as meat, cheese, and prunes should also be eaten less often. If you cannot resist these foods, try chewing slowly, and brush your teeth immediately after, since it only takes 20 minutes for the acids to affect both the teeth and the braces.
Sometimes, caring for your dental braces may involve some repairing. Minor problems such as a spacer coming loose can easily be remedied at home. With the right tools, you can even reinsert a protruding wire back inside the brace. For major problems, however, such as broken wires and braces, an immediate visit to the dentist is necessary.
Dental braces should also be protected during physical activities. Mouth guards can be worn during aggressive sports like football and basketball. Dentists can even make customized mouth guards that fit perfectly on your braces.
