Three Tips For Living With Braces

If you are undergoing or are interested in receiving teeth-straightening treatment, you want to make sure that you are following all the best practices to make the most of your treatment. From traditional braces to Invisalign aligners, there are a few ways to guarantee the best results over time. No matter what kind of treatment plan you decide to utilize, there are a few universal rules that will help you cut down on treatment times and variability. If you are interested in straightening your teeth or need any other orthodontic treatments, make sure that you get it taken care of the right way the first time with the elite team here at Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics. We are proud to be in the top five Invisalign providers in the world and one of the top orthodontic leaders in the country. Here are three quick tips to ensure that you make the most of your braces.

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Braces are a naturally abrasive material, and food will aggregate and gather on them naturally. If you are using traditional braces, we recommend that you brush your teeth carefully after every meal to try to keep your braces clean and clear. Food and debris that get stuck on your braces can calcify or form bacteria, which will actively hinder both your straightening process and can even hurt your teeth over time. Whenever you can, we recommend that you try to brush your teeth within an hour of any meal. For snacks and other meals where brushing could be inconvenient, try to use mouthwash to get rid of any excess bacteria.

Be Careful Of Damaging Foods

Certain foods can be extremely hard on your braces, and if you can, we recommend that you try to avoid them as much as possible. Chewy, hard, and sticky foods can loosen or even damage your brackets, which over time will cause your braces to shift. Any time your braves shift, your treatment time will go up drastically as your teeth will no longer be pushed into the right position. Try to avoid foods like chewing gum, caramel, taffy, hard candy, or anything else along those lines. We don’t expect you to give up everything chewy and sticky, just try to limit the number of times you enjoy those foods.

Floss Regularly

Flossing is one of the most important things you can do when you have braces. Flossing with braces can be a bit trickier, so we recommend that you use a floss threader or a floss pick. Flossing picks up any remaining food or debris that was left behind after brushing and helps ensure that your teeth stay strong and healthy throughout your treatment.

If you are interested in learning more about straightening your teeth or want to learn more about your orthodontic care, contact Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics today. We look forward to helping you get the smile of your dreams with the best treatments currently available.