*Real Patient of Dr. Endrizzi*
Congratulations on your new braces! Before you know it, you’ll be finished with your treatment and have a dazzling new smile.
When you take good care of your braces, you’ll experience fewer problems. Brushing, flossing, and eating the right foods can protect your braces from damage and safeguard your wallet from additional expenses.
Brushing with Braces
Invisalign aligners are removable so that you can continue to brush and floss your teeth the same way you have always taken care of your teeth. The aligners should be brushed with a toothbrush and placed in a denture or aligner cleaner on a regular basis.
Metal or ceramic braces require consistent care to ensure the best possible results. Remember that practice is what helps our patients become accustomed to brushing and flossing with braces. Fortunately, our patients adjust quickly to the new dental hygiene routine.
Here are some tips to improve your daily braces maintenance routine:
- Brush for 2-3 minutes, 3 times a day.
- Gently brush your gums and teeth.
- Use special braces flossers to facilitate easy flossing.
- Floss once a day.
- Use mouthwash before bed.
- See your dentist every 4-6 weeks for maintenance.
Regular visits also help us keep an eye on how well your braces are working. In some cases, we may recommend slight adjustments, like extra bands.
Eating with Braces
We recommend following a soft foods and liquid diet for the first few days after you get your braces. Within a week, chewing will become natural again, and you can start eating some of the foods you love again. However, you should always avoid the following foods while wearing braces:
- Pretzels.
- Uncut apples or carrots.
- Hard frozen foods.
- Nuts.
- Beef jerky.
- Corn on the cob.
- Bubble gum.
- Popcorn.
- Sticky foods like caramels or gummi bears.
Foods that are hard or chewy are difficult to bite without damaging your braces. Cut foods up for easier chewing and so that fewer food particles get stuck in your braces.
Form Good Habits
Biting your nails, chewing on pen caps, and chewing ice are all activities that can damage your braces and your teeth. Once you have braces, avoid picking at your wires and brackets. Your orthodontic experience can be easier and more convenient if you take care of your braces and teeth.
Call Us to Schedule Your Free Braces Consultation!
If you have any questions about caring for our braces, we are here to help! Call us today at Endrizzi Orthodontics to ask questions or to schedule your next appointment.