Protecting Your Braces
Poor tooth alignment does more than just affect the quality of your smile. Crooked teeth can also impact your oral health, leading to uneven tooth wear, tooth damage, bruxism and TMJ disorder. Traditional braces are a common, effective treatment for correcting the alignment of your teeth, improving your oral health, your smile, and your confidence. However, for your braces to do their job properly, they need to be cared for and protected from harm. Naborowski Orthodontics can help.
Keeping Your Braces CleanWhile oral hygiene is important all of the time, it is especially important when you are wearing braces. Your brackets and wires can easily trap food particles and bacteria that can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay. If these issues develop, they could interfere in your orthodontic treatment.
Brushing and flossing with braces is a bit different than brushing and flossing regularly. In addition to brushing first thing in the morning and at night, you should brush after every meal. Angle your toothbrush against the brackets and be sure to brush carefully around each one as well as under the wires. Use a floss threader to get your floss under your wires. Floss between each of your teeth as well as around your brackets.
Protecting Your Braces While EatingThe brackets of your braces are bonded to the front surface of each tooth. While the bonding agent is strong, your brackets can still become dislodged. Your wires can bend or break under pressure. Eating certain types of foods can cause these issues to occur. It is important to take care when you eat. Avoid eating foods that are hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky. Some foods can be altered so that you can still enjoy them while wearing braces. For example, you should avoid eating a whole apple, but you can enjoy it cut into slices.
Braces Protection and Playing SportsIf you play sports, you already know the importance of wearing a mouth guard. Certain types of sports pose a risk of oral injuries, and these injuries could be made worse while wearing braces. To protect your teeth and your intraoral tissues, you need to wear a mouth guard. However, you cannot wear your regular mouth guard while wearing braces. Your mouth guard will not fit properly and can increase your risk for serious injuries. A customized mouth guard can be made for you to accommodate your braces, helping to provide you with the best protection possible.
What if I Have a Braces Emergency?Taking preventative measures to protect your braces can significantly reduce the risk of complications occurring, but braces emergencies can still arise. A bracket could come loose, or your wires might bend or break. These issues need to be addressed right away to avoid any complications during your braces treatment. Call our office immediately to schedule an appointment, and we will try to get you in as soon as possible. If your brackets and wires are causing discomfort, you can use paraffin wax to help avoid irritation and sores.
Taking the proper precautions to protect your braces helps to ensure that they effectively correct the alignment of your teeth to improve your smile and your oral health. For more information on protecting your braces, call Naborowski Orthodontics today at (630) 543-5051. |
