Every orthodontic patient needs to take braces maintenance seriously, because it plays a vital role in treatment efficiency!
Braces are one of the most popular dental accessories in the United States, and thousands of people throughout the Columbus Metro Area get braces each year. It’s no secret that braces can help transform a patient’s smile within a matter of a year or two, but a lot of people forget just how important braces maintenance is when it comes to keeping treatment timelines on track.
Braces always require maintenance, and following the below braces maintenance tips will help you finalize your treatment as soon as possible!
How You Can Effectively Take Care Of Your Braces
Your daily routine throughout braces treatment isn’t supposed to be full of annoying hassles, and the truth is that there are many very simple steps that braces patients can take that’ll go a long way towards maintaining their treatment’s efficiency.
Below are a handful of tips that you should follow each day to avoid potential complications during your treatment:
Be Mindful Of What You Eat & Drink
One of the most irritating scenarios that patients need to avoid is getting food stuck within their braces, because this can lead to discomfort and potentially other issues if neglected. Although braces are always very durable, you’re still going to need to watch what you eat throughout your treatment to avoid issues.
Most food is perfectly fine for braces patients, but you’ll need to stray away from sticky, hard and crunchy foods. Our staff will provide a comprehensive list of food items that are best to be avoided, so you can remember what’s off the menu during treatment.
It’s also important to avoid sugary drinks that can stain your brackets and decay your teeth during braces treatment, and this is primarily due to excessive amounts of acid and sugar that can be difficult to remove.
Although it may initially seem like you’ll have to do several dietary changes for your braces treatment, you’ll quickly see that these changes are easy to adapt to and can help you make several healthy lifestyle changes.
Regularly Brushing Your Teeth
It may seem like brushing your teeth with braces is more time-consuming and difficult, but it’s important for patients to remember just how crucial their oral hygiene is for their treatment efficiency. The biggest issue that brushing addresses for braces patients is eliminating all sorts of pesky plaque and food particles that get stuck within wires and brackets.
Brushing your teeth 2-3 times each day always goes a long way to get rid of plaque and food that’s become stuck. When braces patients neglect their brushing, it ends up leading to pretty serious dental problems much faster than normal. We also recommend that you use a toothbrush with soft bristles, because this will help you brush more effectively and thoroughly.
Using Proper Brushing Techniques
Patients also need to be aware of the correct brushing techniques that they must implement while brushing their teeth with braces. The best way to begin brushing is to place your brush on your gum line at a 45-degree angle and initially clean the area above your brackets. When you’re ready to brush your braces, angle the brush downwards for the top of the bracket and upwards for the bottom of the bracket.
These brush angles will help a lot when it comes to thoroughly scrubbing the parts of your brackets that are tough to get to, and you really should be brushing after every meal (including lunch). Braces patients have a much greater incentive to brush more than twice a day, and you’ll likely be surprised by how much you enjoy maintaining a shiny, clean smile throughout the afternoon hours!
Don’t Forget To Floss!
A lot of people think that brushing their teeth is more than enough dental care, which then leads them to ignoring the overall importance of flossing. It’s crucial for braces patients to floss just as much as they brush, and you can rest easy knowing that there are many convenient alternatives to traditional floss when it comes to flossing with braces.
Flossing 2-3 times a day is important because it helps you eliminate plaque buildup and all sorts of food particles that get trapped within your braces, and these days most braces patients are choosing to floss with interdental brushes and floss threaders that are readily available at any pharmacy.
One important tip is to try to be gentle, because flossing too hard can cause irritation or too much pressure on your braces.
The JK Orthodontics Team Is Here To Support You With Your Braces Maintenance!
Braces maintenance and upkeep is usually not too difficult, but some patients have more trouble when it comes to keeping up with the consistency that’s necessary throughout treatment. It’s important to remember that your braces treatment is ultimately a long-term investment in your oral health, so you certainly will appreciate your efforts when it comes time to get your braces off and live life with a beautiful, healthy smile!
JK Orthodontics has supported countless braces patients throughout the past 30 years, and our team will always inform you about upkeep techniques that make treatment timelines more efficient. Contact us online or call us at 614-766-0330 (Dublin office) or 614-471-6355 (Gahanna office) to schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Karpac today!