If you’ve recently gotten braces, then you might be wondering “how should I take care of my braces?” To help you understand how to care for your braces, we’ll share some tips that you can use. These tips are based on research and our experiences as orthodontists. Our goal in sharing this information with you is to help you maintain healthy teeth.
Keep in mind that this information should not be used as a replacement for seeing an orthodontist or dentist. At Bailey Orthodontics, we can help you find the right treatment for your teeth!
Why you might need braces
Braces are great for your smile if you’ve got different issues with your teeth. For example, braces are used to:
- Straighten teeth
- Improve lower and upper jaws alignment
- Difficulty with speaking due to alignment of the teeth
- Other issues related to the look and feel of your teeth
Braces can help with those issues, as well as with other issues related to teeth. Braces work the best when a child is younger and developing. However, anyone can get braces. Talk to an orthodontist about if braces are right for you or your child. Your orthodontist would talk to you about the pros and cons of getting braces based on your or your child’s teeth and oral health.
How to take care of your braces
Once you’ve gotten braces, you might wonder what you can do to take care of your braces. Here are some steps you can take to maintain your braces. These steps will also help you with good oral hygiene.
1. Brush and floss your teeth
You should be brushing and flossing your teeth when waking up, after eating, and before you go to sleep at night. Brushing and flossing will help keep away debris from getting stuck in your braces. That’s because braces often have gaps or little openings where debris can get stuck in. Eating food can produce debris which can get caught in the braces. So, that’s why it’s important to brush and floss your teeth often when you have braces. Brushing and flossing your teeth will also help with having good oral hygiene which is needed for healthy teeth.
2. Stay away from foods that are bad for your braces
There are different foods that are bad for your braces. Foods that are bad for your braces include:
- Hard and sticky foods, especially candy
- Foods that are difficult to chew
- Foods that are acidic
- Foods that are hard on your teeth like ice
Staying away from foods that are bad for your braces will make it easier for you to maintain your braces. Avoiding these foods will also help with issues like the staining of your teeth and teeth discoloration caused by acidic or sugary foods.
3. Visit an orthodontist on a regular basis
It’s very important to visit your orthodontist on a regular basis. Remember, prevention is important to great oral health. So, rather than waiting for issues to arise, visiting your orthodontist on a regular basis will help you avoid having problems with your braces. Your orthodontist would also be able to notice any abnormalities or issues with your braces.
Bailey Orthodontics–We care!
At Bailey Orthodontics in Bountiful, UT, we care about you!. We want you to have the best oral health! We also want you to have the best smile out there. If you’re in the state of Utah, give us a call or text us at (801) 292-1222. You can also contact us here.
Remember, our dental practice emphasizes quality patient care. We also believe in helping you meet your needs. So, give us a call! We would love to hear from you!
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