Braces collect food and dental plaque very easily. If proper oral hygiene is neglected during orthodontic treatment both tooth decay and periodontal disease can occur easily.
It is very important to maintain a daily plaque control program. Such a program may be as follows:
- A soft toothbrush should be used. A special orthodontic toothbrush can also be used to brush your teeth.
- Flossing with braces on takes more time than usual. Superfloss or floss threaders can aid in flossing, and make it more time efficient.
- An interdental brush can be used to fit between the wire and the tooth to remove hard-to-reach plaque and food debris.
- Oral irrigators can be used along with brushing and flossing. This helps remove food debris and plaque.
- A mouthwash containing fluoride can be used to help prevent cavities from occurring.
- Hard foods should be avoided since they can bend the wires, loosen the bands, or break the brackets (braces). Fruits and raw vegetables should be cut up into smaller pieces and chewed on the back teeth.
- Sticky foods such as chewing gum, hard candies, & toffees should be avoided as they can bend and break the wires and brackets.
- Foods high in sugar should also be avoided, since this will increase the chances of tooth decay.
Regular dental appointments are important to monitor the health of teeth and gums during orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontics is lot of work and taking care of the braces is not easy, but in the end, the results will be worthwhile when you have your new and improved smile....and remember, be proud to give a silver smile!
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