It’s A New Year. Time to Recommit to Your Oral Health
It’s that time again when so many of us make resolutions toward living a healthier and better life for the year ahead. If you’re resolving to “exercise more,” or to “save money,” we also encourage you to add “maintaining a beautiful smile” to your resolutions list. Now is the perfect time to recommit to your oral health with a proper braces cleaning routine.
For many patients, starting braces treatment is a big step, as it shows a commitment to having a beautiful smile. But a big part of that commitment includes properly caring for braces. Read the following with everything you need to know for recommitting to your oral health in 2021 and beyond.
Why caring for braces is important
Properly caring for braces throughout your orthodontic treatment ensures the best possible outcome. If you don’t brush your teeth properly or skip flossing, this could lead to delays in your treatment and possible complications such as cavities and gum disease. Don’t forget, proper care is not just limited to a consistent brushing regimen, it also includes sticking to a braces-friendly diet. Eating the right foods, while avoiding the wrongs ones prevents damage to your appliances and helps maintain healthy teeth and gums.
How to take care of braces
Here are some braces care tips to help you fulfill your recommitment to good oral health.
- Brush at least three times per day – While wearing braces, we recommend brushing your teeth at least three times per day or after every meal. This includes gently brushing your gums, all sides of your teeth, your tongue, and every metal bracket. You should spend at least 2 minutes brushing your teeth – or 30 seconds per quadrant.
- Floss once per day – Use dental floss to remove food and plaque. We understand this is not easy to do while wearing braces, so that’s why we recommend using a floss threader. A floss threader is a rigid, thin piece of plastic that helps you slide the floss under the wire of your braces. This allows you to easily place the floss between your teeth. For other hard to reach areas, you may also use a waterpik also known as an oral irrigator, but please note a waterpik should never fully replace flossing.
- Periodic professional dental cleanings – Throughout the course of your braces treatment make sure to schedule periodic cleanings with your dentist. This is typically done every six months and will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
- Maintain a braces-friendly diet – A braces friendly diet means avoiding hard foods, or any other food item that can damage your braces. This includes nuts, hard candy, gum, taffy, bagels, and chips, just to list a few. Additionally, we recommend avoiding foods that are high in sugar such as soda, ice cream, and cakes to prevent cavities or unsightly dark spots on your teeth. Don’t overlook this important step while caring for braces.
Properly caring for braces will help you stay on track to completing your braces treatment on time, and will help you avoid any possible complications. This commitment should be kept throughout the year and beyond the length of your treatment.
A beautiful smile is just one consultation away
If you have questions about proper braces care, or if you would like more information about starting orthodontic treatment. . . let us help!
Schedule a free consultation with one of our friendly and experienced orthodontists at Nease & Higginbotham Orthodontics in upstate South Carolina. We are conveniently located in Spartanburg, Duncan, Gaffney, and Union. Click here to request a complimentary orthodontic exam. Together we can make it the best year yet when it comes to your oral health.
