Sometimes, a few of your teeth go out of the proper alignment due to trauma from an accident or some unchecked habit of the past. Such misalignment of teeth gives you a dissatisfactory appearance that makes you lack self-confidence. For the restoration of such oddity of the general tooth arch, dentists use retainers or dental braces. The dental braces are used to bar the growth of teeth in an incorrect direction. Tooth retaining devices like braces, springs and the wires attached to them attract a lot of plaque, which can later turn to tartar. Crisp maintenance of braces is necessary so that the few side-effects of a cure don’t spoil the shine of your smile.
Cleaning Teeth While Using Braces
The regular cleaning procedure doesn’t work with dental braces. You might break the wires and hurt yourself while brushing or flossing your teeth with a jerking motion.
Do: While flossing your teeth, keep the end of the floss above the wire and insert it between two teeth and gently clean both sides of the gap in a back and forth motion. The wires attached to the teeth are supposed to be in a precise position to act correctly.
Don’t: Avoid applying any tension on the wire to prevent it from slipping out of the brackets or hurting you.
Brushing might make you feel a bit exhausted while you are using braces.
Do: Opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush. Use the brush to clean your teeth in the vertical motion. A proxabrush is something that can be used for the proper cleaning of braces. The proxabrush can be inserted in the space between two braces to remove plaque from the brackets.
Eating While Using Braces
Eating becomes a trouble when you have dental braces on. Certain foods can affect the braces or break them. Although most of the foods that you eat regularly can be consumed in smaller, easily chewable bits, there are some foods that must be avoided until the braces come off.
Don’t: Avoid the following foods:
- Hard foods with crunch, such as apples or bagels
- Chewy foods like taffy or chewing gum
- Corn on the cob
- Hard candies, popcorn, nuts and carrots
Being Sporty While Wearing Braces
You can still hop, jump and fall in outdoor games while using dental braces. But, there is still a chance of getting severe trauma on your mouth and on braces that can be painful.
Do: To prevent that from happening, a mouthguard, designed especially for braces, is suggested. The mouthguard protects your teeth and internal tissues from damage while indulging in sports.
One other problem with dental braces is that it makes contact with the inside tissues of your mouth. Everyday wear on the tissues may cause canker sores on the inside of your mouth, and the sores can make daily functions harder. The dentist may prescribe you with ointments or antibiotic medication for mouth sores. For any other queries or help with dental retainers and braces, contact the dental offices in Edmonton.
