To care for braces, maintain excellent oral hygiene by brushing after every meal and flossing daily with the help of tools like a floss threader or interdental brush. You must also avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can damage your braces, such as popcorn, hard candy, and gum. It is also important to continue with regular professional dental cleaning appointments.
Oral hygiene routine:
Brush frequently: Brush your teeth after every meal and snack, as well as at bedtime, for at least two minutes each time.
Angle your brush: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to clean above and below the wires and around the brackets.
Use a fluoride mouthwash: Rinse with an alcohol-free, fluoride mouthwash twice a day to help prevent cavities.
Floss daily: Floss once a day using a floss threader, an orthodontic floss pick, or an interdental brush to clean between your teeth and around the braces.
Diet and food precautions:
Avoid sticky and chewy foods: Stay away from items like gum, caramels, taffy, and jerky.
Avoid hard foods: Don’t eat hard foods like nuts, hard candies, or crunchy vegetables unless they are cut into small pieces. Avoid chewing on ice or hard objects like pens.
Be careful with crunchy foods: Steer clear of popcorn, and be cautious of foods like corn on the cob or apples.
Limiting sugary drinks and snacks can increase the risk of cavities, so it’s best to consume them in moderation.
At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today. We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.