Manassas Orthodontist
Manassas Orthodontist | Braces can help you achieve a more beautiful, straighter smile. Although they are helpful in providing the smile of your dreams, it is not realistic to expect to continue living your life just as you did before receiving braces. They are an investment that requires some degree of maintenance if you want to have your teeth straightened without any unnecessary delays or extra visits to your Manassas Orthodontist.
But what exactly is it that you need to be doing differently while you are being treated with braces? How can you maintain your braces so that your treatment time does not last any longer than absolutely necessary?
Your Braces and Oral Hygiene
Everyone knows about the importance of oral hygiene. Properly brushing and flossing your teeth at home prevents the overgrowth of bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. But having braces throws another variable into the mix. It can complicate things. But no worries. There are ways that you can work around your braces so that you maintain proper oral hygiene.
Braces are great for straightening teeth. The problem comes in due to the fact that braces provide more opportunities and spaces for food debris to get stuck. Braces make it harder to clean and reach difficult areas, like around metal wires and brackets.
If you want to have your braces eventually removed for the revelation of a stunning and beautiful smile, you need to make sure that your teeth are properly cleaned, including the spaces between your braces. Recommended by your Manassas Orthodontist.
Maintaining Good Habits
It really isn’t all that hard to practice proper oral hygiene, but making it a habit can be difficult. The key is to stick with it on a continual basis so that it becomes something that you don’t even think about anymore. You just do it. It can be frustrating to clean around your new braces, but it is more than worth it.
When food debris becomes trapped around your braces, the buildup of plaque is not far behind. Plaque creates an acidic environment that damages your teeth, potentially leading to gum disease. Gum disease can progress to the point that teeth loosen and fall out because of the destruction of gum tissue and bone.
Make the following a habit:
- Brush three times daily and floss twice a day.
- Use a good mouthwash twice a day.
- Remove your elastics prior to brushing.
- Brush gently so that brackets and wires are not damaged.
One thing to avoid with braces is eating hard and crunchy foods. Although ice is not technically a food, it is still something to be avoided, both for your teeth and your braces. Almost everyone loves popcorn. But this is a snack that can be very difficult to clean, as the shells, which are difficult to remove under normal circumstances, become even more difficult to clean from around braces.
Although braces can be a hassle on many levels, the reward comes in the form of a beautiful smile that is revealed when you finally have them removed. Make the process as easy as possible on yourself by following the instructions of your Manassas orthodontist and maintaining proper oral hygiene.
Learn More
Contact our Manassas Orthodontist today at (703) 880-7261! New patients are welcome.
