*this post was sponsered but all opinions are my own
My son, Ian just got his braces off and my daughter Ella, is still wearing hers, so we have definitely learned quite a bit over the past couple of years when it comes to caring for your braces. Health and wellness is extremely important to me and that comes into play with braces, as well. If you do not take proper care of your teeth while wearing braces, this could potentially lead to major issues down the road. Here are just a few easy ways to easily care for your teeth with braces:
Eat Appropriate Foods
Your orthodontist should give you quite a few tips when it comes to eating appropriate foods with braces. For example, biting into an apple, or eating very stick candy has the potential to rip a portion of your braces off, so they tell you to avoid those foods. Instead, you could opt for a non-sticky candy, or cut up apples. There are easy ways to make small modifications that will still allow you to eat the foods you love, with or without braces!
Brush and Floss Carefully
Making sure you keep your teeth clean is so important while you have braces! You do not want unnecessary discoloration or damage to your teeth over something you can easily prevent. Make sure you are brushing carefully around each tooth and wire to remove all debris. Most dentists recommend brushing for a whole 2 minutes. Flossing with braces might take a little longer than it used to without braces, but it is still very necessary! To floss, thread the floss under the wire of your braces. There are some devices that are specifically made to help people with braces floss that you can look into purchasing if you are having difficulty. You should floss everyday!
Stay Current With Dentist Appointments
One of the most important things to remember when you have braces is to stay current with your dental appointments. Honestly, this is very important for everyone to remember, no matter if you have on braces, or not. But, when you wear braces, it can be extremely hard to brush and floss correctly, no matter how hard you try. Plaque buildup is very common with braces, so in order to keep your teeth healthy underneath the braces, you will want to see a dentist for a deep cleaning every six months.
If you are looking for a dental office in the Metro-Atlanta area, I might consider checking Metro Decatur Dental Group PC out. They not only provide the most up-to-date general and family dentistry services, but also provide orthodontic services, as well. The Metro Decatur Dental Group PC’s clinic has grown to provide a world class facility for the treatment of tooth loss, dental cosmetics, and advanced restorative dentistry and Dr. Gary Simms, DDS, is most known for his calm and caring demeanor, which will help make your children feel comfortable. Located in Decatur, Georgia, Metro Decatur Dental Group PC is a great option for all of your dentistry needs!
Think About Holding Off On Whitening
We all want those “pearly whites,” and if you have braces on, you probably care about how your teeth look! However, thinking twice about whitening your teeth when you have braces on might be a good idea for a couple of reasons. First, some whitening products could damage the brackets on your braces. We all know how expensive braces are. There is no sense in paying more to replace damaged pieces! Aside from the damage to the braces themselves, whitening products might not have the effect you want when you have braces on. Think about it - how much of each tooth are your braces covering? If you whiten your teeth, only part of each tooth will touch the whitening product and be whitened. When you get your braces off, you could be left with spots of darker tooth and spots of lighter tooth. Not a great look in my opinion! If you insist on whitening while you have braces on, make sure you check with your dentist or orthodontist about the products you want to use to ensure that no damage is done to your (pricey!) braces.
Inform Your Dentist If You Have Concerns
If you have any concerns throughout the orthodontic treatment process, please call up your orthodontist or dentist! It is very easy to pop off part of your braces, so if this happens, do not be scared and just give Dr. Simms a call - he can help you!
Do you have any experience with braces? If so, what helped you? I feel like all I ever say to my kids is "brush your teeth" and now I ask Ian all the time "Are you wearing your retainers?"
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