After getting your braces, it is important to know how to take care of your teeth to ensure that your braces stay intact and do their job so that your teeth are in top-notch condition after you complete your orthodontic treatment. Today, our team at Alpine and Rafetto Orthodontics thought we would provide you with five tips you need to know to ensure you undergo successful treatment at our office.
Brushing
Teeth and appliances should be brushed after every meal and before bedtime using fluoride toothpaste and gentle, soft strokes. We recommend using a soft bristle toothbrush. Brushing on top of and under the brackets is important to make sure to remove food that gets caught under the wire and around your brackets.
Flossing
Flossing once a day can help you clean areas between teeth and other places a toothbrush can miss. We also recommend using a floss thread, which can be used to help you navigate safely around your braces and brackets. It is vital to floss to keep gum disease and tooth decay at bay.
Using Elastics
This phase of orthodontic treatment requires cooperation and consistency on your part. If your orthodontist has prescribed elastics, make sure they are worn at all times, except when brushing your teeth. You must wear the correct size of elastics and have extras in case they are misplaced. By failing to wear your elastics for even one day, you run the risk of your teeth moving back toward their original position.
Addressing Damage to Your Braces
In case your appliances are damaged, we ask that you call our office immediately to set up an appointment.
Eat Friendly Foods
When undergoing treatment, there are certain foods you must avoid. Foods that are hard, sticky, and chewy can add months to your treatment time. These include caramels, taco shells, nuts, ice, chips, hard candies, starburst, skittles, tootsie rolls, hard pretzels and hard chips. We allow chewing on sugarless gum.
Dr. Mogavero hopes this information is helpful! If you have any questions, please give us a call at our office or ask us during your next appointment!