For those with crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, orthodontics is the answer. This can improve not only the appearance of your smile, but the health as well. Now that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, there are some things you should know about caring for your teeth and braces.
Dental Hygiene with Braces
Dental hygiene is a little more involved while wearing braces. To floss your teeth, work the short end of your floss through the space between the upper part of the tooth and the arch wire. Then use a sawing motion to gently work the floss between the teeth. Be very careful around the arch wires.
When brushing, use a soft-bristled brush. Brush both up from the bottom and down from the top of each tooth. After this, use a proxabrush, which is made to clean between the brackets. Insert the brush both from the bottom up and from the top down between each bracket. Use several brushing strokes in each direction.
Foods to Avoid
There are certain foods that should be avoided while wearing braces, as they can break or loosen the brackets. These include:
– Tough-to-bite or hard foods like apples
– Chewy foods like caramel
– Hard pretzels, carrots, nuts, and popcorn
– Corn on the cob
Feel free to contact Jacobsen & Maleeh Orthodontics today to learn more and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Jacobsen. Our orthodontist and team in Victorville, California, are happy to serve you.