Life with braces takes some getting used to. You’re going to have to change the way you eat, and you’ll be spending a lot more time cleaning your teeth. But with proper care and a little patience, you’ll soon have the straight, bright teeth you were wishing for. We put together this best practice guide for wearing braces to help you keep your teeth healthy and get the results you want.
Best Practice Guide for Wearing Braces
- Always follow your orthodontist’s instructions for proper care.
- Never tear any food or packaging with your teeth.
- Never pull on the wires of your braces.
- Keep dental floss or floss picks handy, just in case you get anything stuck in your braces when you’re eating.
- Brush and floss every single day—better yet, brush and floss 20 minutes after every meal.
- If you can’t brush, rinse your mouth with water after eating to get rid of food debris.
- Keeping Your Teeth and Braces Clean
- Brushing. You’ll need to angle your toothbrush to make sure you’re reaching all the surfaces of your braces, teeth, and gums. Use a soft toothbrush and look in the mirror while you’re brushing to make sure you get a thorough clean.
- Flossing. This is the trickiest part—learning how to floss when you have braces can take some time. If you’re having any trouble, schedule a cleaning at your dentist’s office. Your oral hygienist can demonstrate how to brush and floss your teeth with braces.
- Mouthwash. Use a mouth rinse after flossing to wash away any food debris so it doesn’t get caught in your braces again. Mouthwash also gets rid of the bacteria that form plaque and protects your teeth from cavities.
What to Eat with Braces
Soft Foods. When you have braces, soft foods that don’t require much chewing are best. Things like yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, soup, hummus, refried beans, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs are all good things to eat with braces.
Small Bites. You can still eat most of the foods you enjoy, just make sure to cut them up into small bites that slip easily past your braces. Or, throw them in a blender! Instead of chomping on raw fruits and veggies, try smoothies or green juice instead.
What Not to Eat with Braces
- Don’t eat anything that’s difficult to chew or that you would have to tear with your teeth, like bagels or beef jerky.
- Never chew on non-food objects, ice cubes, or anything hard, like nuts.
- Stay away from anything sticky, especially candy and chewing gum.
- Avoid stringy foods like celery and starchy foods like potato chips.
- Don’t eat things that might get caught in your braces, like popcorn and seeds.
When to Call Your Dentist
- It’s normal for your teeth to ache a little bit after an adjustment, but if you’re experiencing severe pain, talk to your orthodontist right away.
- If you snap a wire, contact your orthodontist immediately.
- Broken braces can damage your mouth and slow down your treatment, so it’s important to get them repaired as soon as possible.
- If you get something caught in your braces and need some help getting it out, schedule an urgent cleaning.
Orthodontic Treatments in Colorado Springs
Are you ready to straighten your teeth? Whether you choose braces or Invisalign, the team at South Springs Dental Group can help you align your smile. If you’re interested in getting braces, bookmark this best practice guide and make an appointment with us today.