Wearing braces can go a very long way in helping improve your smile even more. Having a perfectly aligned set of teeth helps in:
- Improving your face.
- Giving your jawline a clean or streamlined look
- Boosting your confidence in your smile.
- Improving self-esteem and confidence too.
There are a few things that you can do to protect your smile while wearing braces.
Think of it as an investment:
It helps when you think of braces and orthodontic treatment as an investment in your future. It is therefore extremely important for you to take care of your investment accordingly.
Every day cleaning:
You will need to brush your teeth and it is a good thing to choose a toothbrush recommended by your dentist while you are wearing metal braces. For instance, it may be essential for you to choose the brush with extremely soft bristles or medium hard bristles depending on the type of braces that has been fitted onto your teeth.
The result of such everyday brushing and cleaning your teeth and mouth should be:
- Braces that are completely free of trapped food particles.
- Teeth that are plaque free.
- Healthy and clean gums as well.
It is good to brush your teeth after you eat something. This could be the fastest and simplest way to get rid of food particles that would otherwise stay within the nooks and crannies of your braces.
It is also good to remove any elastic portion before brushing your teeth. Some braces may have elastics and you can extend the shelf life of this component of your braces by removing them before your dental care routine.
Your diet:
There are things that you can eat and things that you should avoid. The latter category is more important here. Some of the foods and food types that you should stay away from are:
- Hard texture foods – nuts, raw fruit and vegetables, popcorn and so on.
- Sweet items that can cause buildup of plaque.
- Sticky foods – caramel, chewing gum.
- Starchy foods such as potato chips.
When it comes to beverages, avoid the ones that have high sugar and acidity. For instance, soda is high on acidity and sugar – so best to stay away from it. When it comes to the things you put in your mouth – you should also stay away from biting your nails and even chewing on pens and pencils for they can all damage braces.
Dental care products:
Choose your dental care products with a lot of care and attention. It is good to ask your dentist for recommendations pertaining to:
- Toothpaste – fluoride protection against decay and for mineral replacement is a good idea.
- Toothbrush – special brushes such as interdental or interproximal may work better.
- Dental floss.
- Oral irrigators and so on.
Essentially, you must pick up products that go a long way in helping dental hygiene and to clean your braces as thoroughly as possible. Fluoride has been proven to be very effective in combating teeth acids as well so look for products that are enriched with this component. You can help fluoride do its job by choosing low-acid foods as well.
Sports:
This is one activity that should not be disrupted simply because you are wearing braces! It is worth it to note that there are special mouth guards available for sports people who wear braces. Think of it as a natural extension to your safety and protective gear and you will never go out and play any sports or games without your dental or mouth guard in place.
According to many studies and agencies, wearing a mouth guard can prevent a large number of dental problems including damaged teeth. And perhaps it is prudent to state that this gets even more importance when you are wearing braces already.
The visible and the invisible:
It may be easier to get rid of visible problems such as food particles. A thorough visual examination of your braces will reveal these problems. But you should also pay attention to the invisible problems and this will include plaque and bacteria.
Investing time in intensive cleaning and good dietary patterns can go a long way in preventing these invisible problems from cropping up.
