Caring for Braces

Are you or your child getting braces soon? We can’t wait to assist you on your journey toward a straighter smile! Braces require special care to keep them in good shape. Keeping your braces clean and functioning properly will help to reduce tooth decay and gum disease and help your treatment plan stay on track. Contact our office to learn more about our orthodontic services or schedule your next visit today!

1. Remove Elastics Before Eating & Brushing

If your child has to wear rubber bands as part of their orthodontic treatment, they may be tempted to eat a quick snack here and there without taking their elastics out first. This is not ideal because the rubber bands can snap or become stretched out and become less effective. Once a patient is done eating or brushing their teeth, however, they should replace their rubber bands as soon as possible.

2. Brush Your Teeth & Braces

Braces can make it more difficult to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. As such, it’s important to establish a thorough at-home oral care routine to keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay. Ceramic braces can also become stained if they are not cleaned often enough or well enough, so it’s especially important for patients with clear brackets to keep their teeth and braces squeaky clean.

3. Floss Daily

Daily flossing is important for everyone, but especially patients with traditional braces. Flossing with metal or ceramic braces involves threading the floss underneath the wire to clean between each tooth. There are also special flossing tools that patients with braces can invest in, and water flossers can be extra helpful for cleaning in between teeth.

4. Avoid Sticky & Chewy Foods

Sticky candy can be more trouble than it’s worth when you have braces. Chewy treats like caramel and taffy can get easily stuck in metal brackets. If they are not properly cleaned, these foods can lead to cavities. Crunchy foods can also damage brackets, which can result in additional orthodontic visits. Not sure if one of your child’s favorite food is braces-friendly? Feel free to ask our Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces team at their next appointment.

Categorised in: Orthodontics

This post was written by Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces