Teeth with braces require that added steps be taken to maintain a healthy smile.
Caring for teeth that have braces requires a bit more diligence than normal dental care. Because the braces and the adhesive used to affix them to the teeth are covering some of the teeth, and maneuvering around them is a bit cumbersome, a few special tips are needed for providing the ultimate in dental care.
Rinse
Dentists and orthodontists alike have taken to suggesting the use of a mouth rinse for their patients with braces. In addition to helping freshen the breath, these rinses help in additional ways by strengthening enamel and prohibiting the buildup of plaque. Act Mouth Rinse is just one of several products available for purchase in drug stores or supermarkets.
Floss and Visit Your Dentist
All dentists tell their patients to floss their teeth, but unfortunately not all of us heed that advice. It is even more important for people wearing braces to floss their teeth after every meal, because braces afford more opportunities for food particles to become stuck in the mouth, thus causing tooth decay.
In addition, dentists and orthodontists recommend that patients with braces have more frequent cleanings than patients without braces. As with the reason for the added importance of the flossing, these cleanings will prevent food particles from being harbored from between teeth and braces and help reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Foods to Avoid
Avoidance plays a big role in caring for your teeth if you wear braces. Cutting down on sugary foods is vital, but there are certain foods that should be cut out completely. Chewing gum, sticky or chewy candies, and foods that might break the braces themselves, such as corn on the cob, hard pretzels and apples, should be avoided. Avoiding these foods will help cut down on your visits to the orthodontist to repair the braces when they break because of eating such foods.
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