10 best care tips for your orthodontic braces

Orthodontic braces play a major role in your journey to a straighter smile. Once you already start wearing the braces then what is next? This is indeed a relevant question for a steadily increasing large number of people across the world. One good thing about these braces is these are pretty low maintenance appliances. There are certain things that you can easily perform to make your journey on the range of orthodontic appliances more effective and easier.

In the following sections of the blog post let us explore few such tips to help you take better care of your braces.

You should know what to expect

Initially when you put on braces for the first time your teeth along with the overall mouth feels tender and sore. This incident is completely normal.  Even the inner lips, the gums and the cheeks are likely to be irritated as a result. This inconvenience may even continue for a couple of weeks or so till your mouth gets used to the appliances. You should not worry about these issues at all. However your inconvenience must be reduced. Saltwater rinse is a good tried and tested home remedy that gives you much relief in those circumstances. Alternatively you can also go with the option of OTC (over the counter) pain relievers, suggests a prominent orthodontist in London.   

After being on braces initially you may feel your teeth are coming loose. This is also something normal and there is nothing to fret over it. Actually, what happens is these orthodontic appliances loosen the teeth in order to move those into the correct positions. Once the teeth sink into the right alignment they just feel as strong as before.

Bid goodbye to bad habits

While you are on your journey with braces you have to choose between bidding adieu to bad habits and breaking the brackets. Biting fingernails, chewing on pen caps and pencil tips, using the teeth as a tool to open bottles, chewing on ice are the bad habits you have to quit for once and for all. Each of these bad habits actually poses a threat to your brackets and wires. If you continue with these harmful habits then your orthodontic treatment cost is more likely to inflate with adding up of costly orthodontic emergencies.   

It is important for orthodontic patients to brush the teeth often

When you are on any orthodontic treatment you must brush the teeth several times a day. To maintain strong and healthy teeth and the gums you must brush after every meal. Brush the teeth applying gentle force of the hand. Make sure the bristles reach all the three surfaces of a tooth, suggests a leading orthodontist in Wandsworth. Brush for two minutes every time. It is a good idea to request your orthodontist to recommend you a suitable toothbrush and toothpaste that are ideal for your teeth and the gums.

Flossing the teeth is important as well

Flossing the teeth is also important while you are on your journey on braces. Ask your orthodontist to recommend you a suitable type of dental floss. It is a good idea to use a floss threader. It makes your task simpler. While you are under a treatment it is better to floss the teeth religiously after each meal. But practically that could be asking too much of your time and effort. You should floss every night before going to bed. This keeps your teeth and the gums strong and healthy in the long run. It is important to remember one thing – your teeth and the gums must be as strong and healthy after the treatment as they were before you put on your braces. Thus flossing is more important than you may think.

Switch to the right kind of diet

When you switch on to your braces initially you should be on a diet of soft foods. This helps avoiding more pain and discomfort suggests one of the best orthodontists in London. Once the initial discomfort is over you can eat foods other than the ones that are soft. But it is important to select foods carefully. Avoid anything that may damage your orthodontic appliances. You should also avoid foods that may get stuck between your brackets. Any damage to your braces or brackets will only derail your treatment from the right track and make it linger longer.

The wrong food items you must avoid with braces

You should avoid the following types of food items while you are on your braces journey –

Sticky food like fruit rollups, caramel and othersChewy foods like various meat preparations, granola bars, bagels and othersCrunchy food items like pop corns, various types of nuts, celery and othersFood items that have to be bitten into like apple, carrot, corn on the cob and such other items

Importance of wearing a mouth guard

Mouth guard protects your teeth as well as the gums and other soft tissues in the mouth while you are in the field partaking in any sports activity. An expert who provides one of the best orthodontist consultations in London says the device or appliance also protects your braces. You can get a customised mouth guard from your orthodontist. It is important to take proper care of your mouth guard. You should also clean it properly at regular intervals.

Dental wax is your friend

Initially when you put on braces for the first time your mouth requires some time to get used to it. Till the mouth becomes used to these alien appliances you will suffer from irritating gums. Apply generous amount of dental wax over the brackets and wires where those irritate your gums. This way you can get much relief. In fact dental wax also protects you from developing blisters and sores in the mouth.

Properly wear the rubber bands

Rubber bands are a vital component of your orthodontic braces. This component is sued to correct the problem of malocclusion. It is crucial that you wear the elastic exactly in the way as your orthodontist instructs. Else it will not be effective said an expert at an Orthodontist appointment. You must keep wearing the rubber band 24 hours a day. Moreover you have to change the rubber band at least thrice a day because it will lose its elasticity.   

You should know when to give your orthodontist a call

If you ever experience any of the following symptoms you must call your orthodontist right away.

The bands and the wires getting looseUnbearable pain after switching over to bracesAn elastic hook gets brokenThere is no more dental wax or bands in your stockYour braces sustain damage from a sporting activity

At 1A Orthodontics in London, we are always prepared to serve you and provide our expert care and guidance.