How To Take Care of Braces: Precautions And Tips

Orthodontic treatments help you with various dental issues and improve your teeth structures. Braces are a great way to achieve symmetric teeth and a beautiful smile. However, brace care is essential as well. If you do not work to maintain its hygiene, it can increase your treatment period and make you prone to infection. It is why you must put special care on your braces to smooth the treatment process.

But how can orthodontic braces help you achieve this? This blog explains the right way to care for your braces. With detailed precautions and tips, you can take proper care of your braces and reduce any discomfort.

Importance Of Brace Care

You might be wondering why brace care is so critical. First of all, braces are an expensive treatment procedure. If you damage them, you might have to spend additonal money to continue the treatment. They also need special care and attention.

You also have to take care of your diet and follow certain diertaty restrictions to maintain your oral health. Orthodontic braces also provide effective results with the right care and routine. If cared for properly, your treatment span also reduces.

Tips On Brace Care

A few tips on brace care can help you maintain better hygiene. You must follow these tips to promote oral health while avoiding any damage to your braces. Here are a few tips you can try:

Protect Your Mouth
You might need a mouthguard to protect braces during certain activities. If you play any contact sports, you must protect your mouth to avoid any damage. Mouthguards can ensure your mouth and braces are not cut or damaged during the activity.

Get Help
If your braces are unattached or wire snaps, you must contact your orthodontist immediately. If he is not available, you must reach any emergency to resolve the issue asap. Broken braces can damage your inner mouth and tongue badly.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene
The most essential tip for better oral health is to practice good oral hygiene in a routine. Brushing three times a day, flossing your teeth, using mouthwash, and using interdental brushes are great ways to maintain cleanliness and kill bacteria.

Maintain Dietary Guidelines
Orthodontal braces come with a long list of dietary restrictions. You must avoid any hard, too-sweet, or sticky food. Such foods can damage your teeth and braces. They might get stuck in between teeth to cause cavities.

Attend Regular Appointments
The other essential tip you can follow is to visit your dentist at regular intervals. You might get appointments but avoid them, thinking you do not need any guidance. But it is important to get your braces checked every month so that you can ensure everything is going well. If you have any confusion or need suggestions, it is best to ask your dentist in advance to avoid the risk of complications later.

Foods To Avoid
There is a long list of foods that you must avoid during your orthodontic braces treatment. You must avoid these to maintain your oral health, or you might have various complications. Here are a few things you must avoid to eat to ensure no damage to your braces:

• Nuts
• Popcorns, Ice
• Caramel based Food
• Hard or sticky Food
• Excess sugary drinks
• Acidic Food or drinks
• Hard Fruits
• Avoid chewing things such as pencils, pens, or fingernails

What To Do In Case Of Orthodontic Emergencies?

Accidents are quite common for people with braces. You must understand how to deal with these situations to manage them better. If you have loose or broken bands, you must use orthodontic wax to temporarily secure them. You can then schedule an appointment for repair treatment.

Similarly, if your brace wire snaps, you must use orthopedic wax to secure it and gently push it back into place. If you do not have orthodontic wax, use gum to secure its end to avoid cuts. Also, you must schedule an appointment if you feel any discomfort to ensure your braces are in good condition. Sometimes, warm saltwater or pain-relieving medication helps with discomfort, but the dentist can better explain the cause.

Preventive Measures You Can Do

Some preventive measures are vital to maintain your brace health. You can try these measures to avoid any damage to your braces.

• Do not use your teeth as a tool. You must use bottle openers, scissors, or knives to cut open something instead of tearing or opening things with your teeth.
• Avoid having any acidic, sugary, or carbonated food or drinks. They might develop cavities.
• Try not to chew pens, pencils, or any non-food items.
• Avoid teeth grinding and use a nightguard to protect your braces.

Conclusion

Wearing braces might take a few adjustment days at first. But with time, you will get used to it. The more challenging aspect of braces is getting used to the routine of brace care. You should follow sufficient tips for better oral health care and ensure you avoid anything that might damage your braces. You can visit SpringtownDentist, TX, and get to know more about your teeth with our experts. You can learn some effective brace care tips to maintain your dental health.