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Living With Orthodontics - Caring For Braces

Orthodontics braces are an excellent way to have your teeth straightened. Unfortunately, your orthodontist can't do it on his own; braces simply won't work without a little help and care from you. Avoiding certain things, caring for them properly, and keeping a good oral hygiene routine will give you the best results and will prevent you from having to wear the appliance longer than you have to.

Choosing The Right Foods

While the foods you can eat remain fairly wide open, some foods should be completely avoided at least until after the orthodontist has removed your braces. Foods that are sticky such as gum and chewy candies get into the hidden areas of the orthotics and can cause serious tooth decay. Foods high in refined sugars are also big culprits of this problem and need to be avoided. Crunchy food items and those that are sticky or hard can also cause the wires to break or bend, affecting their ability to straighten your teeth.

Other hard objects that people often put in their mouths such as their fingernails, ice cubes, and pencils can damage braces badly as well. Popcorn and the husks that come with it are terrible for braces. The popcorn gets underneath the metal braces, go down beneath the gum line, and can bend, break, or become wedged in the wires of the braces. This causes severe irritation while wrecking the braces themselves. Lastly, citrus fruits and other foods high in citric acid will weaken the enamel of your teeth leading to sensitivity and tooth decay.

Proper Oral Health Care

One of the best tools to have to care for your teeth, gums, and braces is a soft-bristled toothbrush. Using it several times a day along with a good flossing technique will prevent plaque, gum disease, and decay from forming in your mouth. Many dental professionals suggest using a Waterpik before you floss or brush to get your mouth as clean as possible.

Many brace wearers avoid or miss dental appointments because of the discomfort associated with adjustments. These appointments are not only necessary to ensure your teeth are straightening correctly, but actual dental appointments are vital as well so that the overall health of your teeth and gums can be checked. In fact, missing these appointments can cause you to have the braces on for a longer period of time because the teeth didn't align properly or the gums swelled limiting their movement. Between appointments, you need to have any damage repaired immediately to avoid this potential problem as well.

Habits To Avoid With Braces

While these habits are not good for anyone, continuing with the habit while wearing braces can be very destructive. One of the first things the orthodontist will warn you about is not to chew on hard objects like pencils or tear open packages with your teeth. Biting on your lips or fingernails is also a bad idea. It might not seem like it at the start, but using your tongue to put pressure on your teeth the wires of your orthodontics to bend and can even force your teeth to go out of alignment.

Additional Tips For Orthodontics

Braces often have sharp or protruding edges on them that can cut your tongue. One of the best ways around this, at least until you get used to wearing them, is to rub a little dental wax on the braces. Orthodontists also recommend massaging your teeth and cleaning your braces for a half hour each night by using a dry toothbrush with no toothpaste. This helps alleviate discomfort and keeps everything clean.

It might not seem like it at the start, but braces are relatively easy to look after. They do require a few special rules and restrictions, but so long as they are looked after properly, you with have the smile you were looking for in no time at all.

About the Author

Christine O'Kelly writes for \a Long Island Orthodontist. For those in need of orthodontics, Long Island patients have the added convenience of making weekend and evening appointments.

Author Profile: charmen

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