Braces can do a lot to perfect your smile, of course, but they do more than this. Braces can help you avoid dental issues and conditions, including gum disease and tooth decay, as having teeth which are perfectly aligned can do a lot to improve your oral health. But if you have braces, it may take some getting used to. Fortunately, adapting to braces doesn’t have to be that hard. All you have to do is follow some general guidelines on the proper care of your braces. Here’s some top advice on caring for your braces that you should always remember.
- Eat the right foods
There’s a lot that can go wrong if you don’t eat the right foods, and your orthodontist should be able to give you a good list of what you should avoid eating when your braces are put in. An orthodontist from the Ashburn VA American Braces Smile Center, for instance, will be able to give you advice on foods you can eat and foods you should avoid. But in general, if you want to be careful about keeping your braces in tip-top shape, you should avoid foods that are hard, chewy, or sticky. Sticky foods like gummy bears and toffee or caramel candy should be avoided if you don’t want the food to get stuck in your braces. You should also avoid foods such as popcorn. But along with avoiding certain foods, you should refrain from some habits such as chewing pencil erasers or pens or biting your nails. Be careful when you drink beverages with ice as well – chewing on ice can easily damage your braces.
- Wear a mouth guard
If you play sports on a regular basis, you should be extra careful when you have braces. You don’t have to stay away from sports, though. Instead, all you have to do is make sure your braces are protected, and the best way to do this would be to use a mouth guard. Wear mouth guards for both the top teeth and the bottom teeth, and if you want a better fit, you can invest in a mouth guard that is custom made for your teeth.
- Know what to do when something goes wrong
Sometimes, even if we’re trying to be very careful, accidents can happen. It depends on the kind of damage and the extent of the damage, but if your tooth cracks, for instance, visit your orthodontist right away. The same is true if a wire or bracket becomes loose. You should be very careful with broken wires, as it can be easy to swallow the wire even without you being aware of it. If some brackets are loose, you can use orthodontic wax to temporarily attach it, but it’s best to schedule a visit with your orthodontist as soon as possible.