Here’s a list of 7 things every orthodontic patient should do while wearing braces. Your teethwill look better. Your braces will come off sooner. These are good things!
1. See your dentist regularly. Every 3 to 4 months while in braces. Your teeth are not as clean as they were the day you got your braces. Even if you brush and floss regularly, you must see your dentist regularly.
2. Brush after every meal. Braces collect food and germs. But, did you know, it only takes 20 minutes for the bacteria in your mouth to start doing damage to your teeth after you have eaten a meal? Waiting to get home from school to brush is a bad idea.
3. Floss every day. This is a tricky one, but the most rewarding. Taking the time to floss every night will leave your gums fresh and healthy. There are many great tools to help you get the job done easily and properly. Look for them in the dental aisle of your pharmacy or grocery store.
4. Avoid sugary drinks. Even fruit juices contain a lot of sugar, but sodas and sports drinks are no- brainers to avoid. Keep it simple, stick to water, or brush after consuming sugary drinks.
5. Get an electric toothbrush. Truth be told, you can actually do a fine job cleaning your teeth with a manual toothbrush, but where’s the fun in that? Electric toothbrushes have built-in timers and ultrasonic cleaning mechanisms that will provide a more thorough cleaning than your manual toothbrush.
6. Avoid broken brackets. The “average” patient breaks one bracket and finishes treatment on-time or early. Patients with broken brackets experience delays in treatment, poor results, or both. Think of braces on your teeth like a cast on your arm. If you broke the cast 12 times during the course of treatment, would you be surprised if the bone didn’t heal perfectly? With proper care, it is possible to go through orthodontic treatment without a single broken bracket.
7. Wear your retainer. The best way to say “thanks” to your parents for getting you braces is to wear your retainer when you’re finished with treatment. You’ll have your teeth for the rest of your life; but teeth can shift, and when they do, your retainer will prevent them from going crooked and keep you from having to wear braces again.