Are you or your family member correcting dental misalignments? If yes, then you may need to wear invisalign braces by following certain restrictions of your orthodontist. This will ensure you attain the best possible result from the treatment. Make sure you develop good oral hygiene habits with consuming the right kind of food. When you are not taking care of your teeth, chances are you nay damage the braces, causing disruption of your orthodontic treatment. This blogpost provides some tips to take care of your braces properly so you can keep them when not using them.
Select the Right Toothpaste, Floss and Mouth Rinse
The orthodontist will provide necessary information about the right toothpaste, floss and mouth rinse to get rid of bacteria causing cavities, gum disease, or halitosis. Certain dental health products consist of abrasive or harsh ingredients that may cause damage to the braces. When you are selecting floss, you should select a type that fits between your teeth and along the wires of brackets. If you want to have fresh breath, then use a mouthwash for thorough rinsing. Make sure you follow the suggestions of your orthodontist about the kinds of products to purchase and keep metal braces in good condition.
Brush Teeth to Get Rid of Food and Beverage Debris
Brushing teeth while you wear your braces is different as you should avoid breaking the wires or dislodging brackets. At the same time, you should try to remove all the food particles had been left behind. So, use a toothbrush that has soft bristles so that it may not harm your braces but exert gentle pressure while brushing properly. Follow these steps when brushing for your attractive smile and protecting the braces:
- Rinse mouth with water to eliminate loose food debris
- Angle your toothbrush along the gums to remove the food that collects in this area
- Use angled motion when brushing away all the food from the brackets
- Angle toothbrush next to the bottom of brackets for brushing upward
- Brush every tooth in the mouth on the front and back to get rid of bacteria
Throughout the day, you should rinse mouth with water to get rid of additional food that collects in the teeth and braces while eating meals or snacks.
Floss at least once daily
Once you buy the specific kind of floss suggested by the orthodontist, make sure you use it once daily. Flossing the right way with your braces on may prevent problems such as bad breath and tooth decay. Use this flossing method for your teeth in the correct way:
- Use floss thread or floss picks
- Stand in front of a mirror when you floss
- Use longer section of flossing thread to reach back teeth in the mouth
- Use your fingers to slip floss under the wires or between the teeth
- Avoid pulling floss when it id underneath a wire
- Change to new section of floss or floss pick when it remains covered with debris
- Clean food debris from the gum area in order to avoid the problem of gingivitis
- Rinse mouth thoroughly after flossing to get rid of loose debris
It is a great idea to do flossing during the day and eliminate food particles that get stuck between the teeth or on your braces.
Use Oral Irrigator to Clean Your Braces and Teeth
If you want to get rid of food particles and plaque from your mouth, then you may invest in an oral irrigator. This small appliance sits on the bathroom’s countertop so that you may fill its tank with fresh water before you use it. A wand produces water from the irrigator’s tank with moderate pressure that dislodges bacteria, food and plaque from your teeth, braces and gums. This device can improve your dental hygiene than avoiding brushing or flossing techniques. Based on the instructions given by your orthodontist, you may only use oral irrigator once in a week for extra cleansing.
Choose Your Diet in the Right Way
The teeth, alveolar bones and gums need higher level of nutrients while you wear your braces. Eating the right foods is important for children as well as teenagers who are in their growing years. But certain foods and beverages should be avoided to protect the brackets and wires on your braces. After your braces are installed, the orthodontist will provide a list of foods you should avoid which include the following:
- Nuts – hard nuts such as walnuts or almonds can break the braces wires
- Fibrous vegetables –fibrous or raw vegetables are a bad choice when you are wearing braces
- Sticky candies – sticky candies such as candy bars or caramels are off-limits
- Whole raw fruit – avoid fruits such as pears and apples
- Bagels – bagels are very hard and chewy
- Corn chips –other crunchy snacks
- Popcorn – the hard kernels may cause damage to your braces
- Tough meat – tough meat such as pork chops or steak
- Peanut butter – along with other sticky nut butter
After you are wearing braces, make sure you eat soft foods that do not cause irritation to your tongue, gums or palate. After a few days, your mouth will get more accustomed to the braces and you can follow the suggested diet of your orthodontist.
Despite how long you wear your braces, the results will be more successful when you follow all the instructions and recommendations given by your orthodontist. During this point of time, you should continue to visit your orthodontist for routine check-ups according to the recommended schedule to ensure your treatment progress is on the right track. If your braces break during the treatment, then you need to see your dentist right away and prevent further injury. If you are having more questions or concerns about caring for the Invisalign braces, then you should discuss them and other orthodontic options with your dentist. You will have straighter teeth and your braces will remain in good condition for longer time.