How to Take Care of Teeth with Braces?

Oral care becomes even more important if you wear braces or retainers. Harmful bacteria can easily get trapped in your mouth due to braces framework. Also, it may prevent you from cleaning your mouth thoroughly and enjoy foods and beverages as you used to do. But, if you want a clean and healthy mouth after getting braces, you must follow these tips and visit your Edmonton dentist regularly.

Rinse with Mouthwash Often

Mouthwashes can flush and remove bacteria from every corner and crevice of your mouth. Rinse your mouth every day after brushing and flossing. You can also rinse your mouth with a good, fluoridated, antiseptic, non-alcoholic mouthwash after every meal to clean your mouth and get rid of food debris and bacteria.

Use Floss Threaders

Flossing with braces on your teeth can be difficult and challenging. However, you cannot avoid this crucial step after brushing your teeth. You can use a floss threader if you face difficulty using a simple floss. Make sure you clean the interdental spaces and also the spaces between the wires.

Avoid Hard Foods

Biting hard food items such as pretzels, corn on a cob, dry fruits, taco shells, candies, raw fruits and vegetables can bend or break your braces wires. Avoid biting or chewing these food items. Also, avoid other habits that can cause stress on the braces such as chewing pens and pencils or biting nails.

Minimize Sugary, Sticky, and Acidic Foods

Sticky food items such as caramel, hard jellies, candies, raisins, chewing gum can get trapped in the wires and rubbers of braces. The residues of sugary and acidic foods and beverages can also stay in your mouth and feed harmful bacteria. All these food items can form plaque buildups and cause tooth decays and cavities if not cleaned properly. Hence, limit the consumption of these foods if you have braces.

Use Fluoridated Products

Wearing braces increases the chances of tooth decays as they trap the food. In such a case, use fluoridated oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride prevents tooth decays and provides an overall healthy mouth.

During the time that you have braces on your teeth, you will have to visit your Edmonton dentist regularly. In case you are facing any irritation or tightness due to braces, the dentist will be able to make adjustments. And even if you aren’t facing any issues with your braces, their routine checkups will ensure that your oral health is well-maintained.