Why do I need special oral care when i have braces?
Have a look in the mirror at your new braces. As you see, the brackets and wires have many nooks and that can trap food and plaque. Food particles can accumulate on teeth and in braces, and over time, turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation can lead to gum diseases, tooth decay and even loss of teeth.
To avoid this you need to follow really good oral care routine.
- Don’t skip brushing twice a day for at least two minutes with Fluoride toothpaste.
- Interdental Brushes are your best friend while wearing braces. Give attention to each tooth and remove plaque from with the help of Interdental brushes.
- Flossing is also necessary to remove plaque and food debris in between the teeth. Be careful the thread may stick into brackets may disturb the process.
- Apart from this, you need to clean your teeth after each meal. Brushing immediately after the meal causes dental erosion, But you can rinse and remove the food particles with Interdental Brush.
Orthodontic Emergencies
The wire and brackets in the mouth often cause pain and discomfort in the mouth. The best way that you can handle it is being prepared for that.
Loose bracket —
Brackets are stuck to the teeth with the help of special adhesives. When you eat something hard it may fall down. You can put the orthodontic wax over the bracket to keep it from poking you. This should provide some comfort until you see your orthodontist.
Loose band –
If a band becomes loose, call for an appointment to have it re-cemented or replaced. If the band comes off completely, do not try to put it back on. Save it and bring it to your appointment.
Protruding or broken wire —
This is a common problem. If a wire breaks or sticks out, it can hurt your cheek, tongue or gum. You may be able to use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a better position. If that doesn’t work, put a small piece of orthodontic wax over the end of the wire. If you find the pain is getting worse see your dentist soon.
Loose spacer —
Sometimes spacers can slip out of position or fall out. If this happens, make an appointment with your orthodontist. You are probably ready to have the band placed.
Braces friendly diet
There are foods that can loosen, break or bend wires and bands when you are wearing braces. Avoid hard foods such as nuts and hard cookies. Foods such as apples and carrots should be chopped into small pieces before eating to reduce the stress on your braces. Avoid sticky foods such as caramels, toffees, muesli or fruit bars. No chewing gum! No chewing ice!
References:
Expert opinion
Dr. Ankita Gada Dental Director at Sabka dentist says “Cleaning your teeth is most important during braces treatment because at the end of the treatment health of the teeth are equally important as much as the appearance”.
Dr. Jena Shah h Dental Director at Sabka dentist says “Your mouth is very sensitive to change and it will take you a few days to get used to wearing brackets and wires in your mouth. At first, your teeth may feel pain and uncomfortable because of the pressure put onto them by the braces. You may also feel uncomfortable while braces adjust. However, you will feel relaxed once it has been adjusted”.
Dr. Reena Waghela Dental Director at Sabka dentist says “Habits such as nail-biting, unnatural tongue thrusting, pencil chewing and nervous picking at your wires can also break braces”
One thought on “What is the best way to live with braces?”
great article