Posted on November 10, 2021
Braces aren’t just for kids; they’re for adults as well. Lots of people need braces at some point in their life, and if you don’t get braces when you’re meant to at a young age, you’ll be more likely need to them in adulthood. At the same time, braces aren’t just orthodontic devices; they also are investments. The fact is that we need to care for our teeth differently when we wear braces. With that being said, let’s look into what you can do to ensure that you’re caring for your teeth properly while wearing braces. After all, you may very well need to wear them for years!
It’s incredibly important for you to change your diet while wearing braces, and if you’re the parent of a child with braces you need to make those dietary restrictions for them. Certain foods get caught in braces, not only degrading the braces themselves but your teeth too. This can cause discoloration, bad breath, and even tooth decay. Cut out foods like popcorn, as well as sticky candies like gum. Pasta also needs to go unless it can be cut into smaller bites, and anything stringy is something you’ll need to say goodbyes to until your braces are gone.
There are toothbrushes that can be provided by orthodontists or bought online, which will better clean your teeth while you wear braces. Alternately, you may also want to use floss in order to clean your teeth and ensure the health of your gums as well. Mouthwash may be something you want to add to your routine when you start wearing braces.
The rules of wearing braces may differ if you choose something like Invisalign aligners. These aligners should be worn 20 to 22 hours a day; however, they must be removed while you eat, unless you want to damage the aligners. With an estimated 50 to 70% of people potentially benefiting from orthodontic treatment, you deserve to have your options (per the AAO). You need to make sure that you’re following the rules that come with their care.
There are a lot of reasons why people choose braces. No matter why you choose them, you need to make sure that you’re taking care of your teeth while you go through treatment.