Braces Maintenance: Taking Care Of Your Braces

What’s the best braces maintenance methods? Braces are among the most common dental accessories, and many Americans get them every year. There are different purposes of braces, and you will come across different types as well. The main point about getting braces is maintenance. Many people are not consistent with the maintenance of their braces, which could lead to major issues.

No matter what type of braces you wear, you should take effective care of them. This will help you get rid of them as soon as possible. To learn more about maintaining braces, read further below!

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The Importance of Braces

There are many benefits of getting braces. Yes, you may know of braces as important for improving your smile, but they also help correct misaligned and overcrowded teeth. Not getting braces could cause a malocclusion, which is an intense plaque around the misaligned teeth, which could become difficult to remove later on. This is why it is very important to wear braces and take effective care of them.

How to Take Care of Your Braces Effectively

There are a few things you can do to take care of your braces. To help you out, mentioned below are a few tips. You have to make sure to follow these almost every day so to avoid any further complications.

Keep a Watch on What You Eat

The one annoying thing most people with braces face is food getting stuck in their braces. This can lead to many other issues. When you get braces, you have to be very careful as to what you eat. You should make sure to avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Your orthodontist is most likely to give you a list of foods that you must avoid. Following the list will help you maintain a beneficial diet.

You will have to say goodbye to sugary items and drinks as they stain and decay the brackets of your braces. The stains are permanent, and you wouldn’t want them to make your braces look unsightly.  Besides food, you must avoid biting your nails if you have such a habit.  Doing this could break or bend your braces, which can be dangerous and a hassle. It can seem hard to make such major food changes, but you have to make a start somewhere. Once you adapt to it out of necessity, you will be proud of your decision.

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Having braces may make brushing your teeth quite difficult, but that doesn’t mean you can stop. You must still continue to brush them. Brushing is a very important part of oral care, and it doesn’t matter if you have or don’t have braces. Rather, brushing becomes even more essential when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment such as braces, as food particles tend to get stuck in them.

By brushing your teeth, you can get rid of the pieces of food and plaque that get stuck. Failing to remove them could result in major dental problems. Dentists recommended that you use a brush with a soft head. This will make it easier to brush thoroughly and effectively.

Use the Correct Brushing Technique

There’s a certain technique you must follow whenever you brush your teeth with braces. Always start by placing your brush at a 45 degrees angle on your teeth’ gum line. When placing it on your braces, hold it at a downward angle right on top of your bracket and then use the upwards angle to clean the bottom as well.

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Use this technique every time you brush, which should be after every meal.  It is always recommended to brush your teeth after every meal when you have braces, as opposed to brushing only twice a day. Doing so will help prevent dental issues, so your braces stay clean and shiny!

Floss After Brushing

People often ignore the importance of flossing and think that brushing their teeth is more than enough.  However, flossing is crucial, especially when you have braces. It can get difficult to floss when wearing braces, but if there is a will, there is a way. The purpose of flossing is to get rid of the plaque buildup and other food particles stuck in your teeth or braces.

When flossing with braces on, you can use floss threaders or even interdental brushes, which are easily available at pharmacies. When you’re flossing with braces, make sure to be as gentle as possible. If you apply too much pressure, you risk damaging your braces. That means making another visit to your orthodontist.

Braces Maintenance: The Bottom-Line

Taking care of braces is not a difficult thing, but what might be a task for you is being consistent with the braces maintenance. Braces are a long-term oral health investment, and poor care would only lead to more dental issues. In the long run, you’ll regret not taking care of them.

Hopefully, with these tips mentioned above, you can take better care of your braces. For the best orthodontic services and queries about braces, contact NYC Dental Orthodontics in NYC.

NYC Dental Orthodontics
20 E 46th St Rm 1301
New York, NY 10017
 (646) 760-8028