Braces can be a bit like an unwanted lodger, or a well meaning friend overstaying their welcome, but learning to work with your brace can lead to a far more harmonious co-existence between you and your brace.

Avoid certain foods

If your braces had feelings, avoiding certain foods would make them happy. Essentially anything that could break or dislodge your braces should be avoided: Hard sweets, nuts, pizza crusts and bagels are to be outright shunned. Some hard foods, like apples or carrots, would be dangerous whole but are perfectly fine if chopped up. Sugary and starchy foods are also best left alone, not just for general oral healthcare, but because these foods can produce a lot a plaque and your teeth, whilst you are wearing braces, can scar if they are not cleaned properly. This brings us swiftly to our next point…

Cleaning your teeth!

A previously simple task is now made a little harder by our orthodontic compadre. You should brush your teeth after every meal in order to remove any food remains from around the teeth. At night, avoid rinsing after brushing: The small amount of fluoride left in your mouth can help strengthen your teeth. The brace itself also needs cleaning; Interdental brushes are useful for this as they can flex around a fixed brace’s brackets.

Sport

Contact sports, much like anything which might involve you being hit in the mouth, can cause problems for braces. A special mouth guard can be produced to fit comfortably around the braces.

Loose brackets and broken wires

There is little you can do about this. It is simply important that you contact your dentist should your braces require any repairs. For more information contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near to Carrickmines for more information.