How To Properly Care For Your Braces
If you have misaligned teeth and your orthodontist has recommended braces to correct the issue, you want to learn about what all will be involved with caring for braces. This way, you'll know just what to expect after you have the braces put on. While braces are fairly easy to care for, there are some tips you want to follow in order to be more comfortable and do your part to ensure good results.
Understanding the importance of oral care with braces
Understanding how important good oral care is with braces will help you to start good habits. Neglecting your teeth when you have braces on can lead to issues such as teeth staining, cavities and even gum disease faster than when you don't wear braces. Improper care of your teeth can also cause you to spend longer in the braces.
Continue with good oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene is always important, but you will need to be even more diligent once you get braces. The braces have a lot of tiny nooks and crannies where food particles can get trapped and cause an excess of plaque build-up. This makes it more difficult for you to properly clean your teeth.
Rather than brushing your teeth only a couple of times a day like you did before you got braces, you will need to brush them after each meal and this includes snacks. It's a good idea to buy a travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste you can carry with you.
If you've never flossed before, you're going to want to make sure it becomes a habit you do daily once you have braces. There is a special floss you can buy that's designed specifically to work around the wires in braces.
You want to use mouthwash every night before you go to bed. After you rinse with mouthwash you should avoid drinking anything, including water for about 15 to 20 minutes. This gives the mouthwash a chance to work at fully disinfecting your mouth.
How to stay comfortable when you get braces
When you first get your braces on they can cause irritation to your mouth and tongue. Your orthodontist, like those at Crest Hill Family Dental, will more than likely send you home with dental wax or you can purchase some on your own. When you feel a part of the braces rubbing against your mouth you want to take a small ball of the wax and put it on the part of the braces that are rubbing.
When you take good care of your braces you will see much better results once you get the braces off and you will have a more comfortable time while you have them on.