How To Care For Your New Braces - Miami Lakes, FL Brace Care
Congratulations on taking the first step towards a straighter, healthier smile! Braces are a fantastic way to achieve your orthodontic goals, but keeping them clean and cared for is crucial throughout the treatment. Here in Miami Lakes, where smiles are bright and beautiful, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to braces care routine and tips. We’ll go over brushing, flossing, choosing the right snacks, adjusting to discomfort, and keeping your scheduled appointments.
Ultimately – good care, regular checkups and following the guidelines your Miami Lakes orthodontist gives you will help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed about.
In This Guide:
Brushing & Flossing With Braces - Braces Care Routine Near Miami Lakes, FL
While it might be a “no-brainer” that your teeth must be brushed while you’re wearing braces, it’s not common knowledge that brushing after every meal or snack can help alleviate any plaque buildup or cavity issues you might have while wearing braces.
Brushing and flossing can be difficult while you’re wearing traditional braces that cannot be removed – follow these tips to help you keep up with the maintenance tasks that come with wearing braces:
Brushing is Your Best Friend:
- Frequency: Brush after every meal and snack, at least twice a day. This care task is often what is a dealbreaker when it comes to adolescent braces – so discuss this need in depth with your child before you decide on braces for them.
- Technique: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, specifically designed for braces.
- Angled Attack: Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle and brush each tooth surface meticulously – both above and below the brackets and wires.
- Don’t neglect those gums. Brushing along the gum line, and brushing your tongue are good habits while you’re wearing braces.
- Fluoride Power: Use a fluoride toothpaste recommended by our Miami Lakes orthodontists.
Flossing with Finesse:
- Floss Threaders: These handy tools help you thread floss under the wires. While it may be a hassle, flossing every time you brush can help you maintain healthy teeth while they’re being straightened!
- Interdental Brushes: These tiny brushes can reach tight spaces between teeth and around braces.
Technique is Key: Floss gently between each tooth, reaching under the gum line without putting too much pressure on your braces.
Mouthwash for Braces - Brace Care Tips
Maintaining a clean smile is even more important when you have braces. Mouthwash can be a great addition to your oral hygiene routine, helping you reach areas around brackets and wires that your toothbrush might miss. Look for an antiseptic mouthwash that contains ingredients that kill bacteria and freshen breath. An alcohol-free formula is ideal to avoid any irritation to your gums, which can be more sensitive with braces. While mouthwash shouldn’t replace thorough brushing and flossing, it can be a refreshing ally in keeping your mouth clean and your breath minty fresh throughout your orthodontic treatment.
Waterpik: Power Flossing for Braces
Food particles and plaque can easily get trapped around braces and wires, making flossing with traditional string floss a challenge. This is where a Waterpik comes in. This handy tool is an electric flosser that uses a pressurized stream of water to gently blast away food debris and plaque buildup. It’s particularly helpful for people with braces who need a bit of help with their traditional flossing routine. Using a Waterpik while wearing braces may significantly improve your gum health and prevent cavities. Remember, a Waterpik is a valuable supplement to your routine, but it shouldn’t replace regular brushing and flossing.
What Foods Are Good For Braces, and Which are NOT?
Choosing the right snacks can help you maintain healthy teeth, minimize broken brackets and visits to your closest Specialty Smiles office for repairs, and keep your smile clear and healthy while your braces are doing their work. Here are a few thoughts on foods that you should and shouldn’t eat while wearing braces.
Foods That Are Hard On Your Braces:
- Sticky Snacks: Candy, caramels, chewing gum – avoid these.
- Hard Bites: Nuts, hard candies, popcorn kernels – opt for softer nuts chopped into smaller pieces and hull-less popcorn.
- Chewy Challenges: Tough meats, jerky, and chewy bagels – cut food into smaller pieces or choose softer options.
- Sugary Sips: Limit sugary drinks like soda and juices.
While you can chew just about anything with braces if the bites are small enough – these foods are softer and more “braces friendly”. Sometimes after an adjustment, softer foods will be easier to eat until your teeth settle into their “new normal.”
Foods & Snacks that Are Easier To Eat When Wearing Braces
- Fruits: Bananas, applesauce, mangoes, pears, melons (cut into pieces)
- Vegetables: Steamed or boiled broccoli, carrots, spinach, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes
- Grains: Soft oatmeal, cooked pasta (avoid chewy options), rice cakes (softened with milk or yogurt)
- Dairy: Yogurt (plain or with fruit), soft cheeses
- Protein: Scrambled eggs, well-cooked fish, ground turkey or chicken (cut into small pieces)
- Yogurt parfaits: Layer yogurt with granola (avoid hard clusters) and chopped fruit.
- Smoothies: Blend fruits, yogurt, and milk for a nutritious and refreshing drink.
- Soft cheese and crackers: Choose crackers that are soft and easy to break.
- Hummus with veggie sticks: Opt for softer vegetables like carrots or cucumbers.
Mealtime doesn’t have to be a problem while you’re wearing braces. Keep in mind that softer foods may be easier to deal with, biting directly into food, such as an apple, may cause issues like food stuck in your brackets, or even broken brackets. Instead, take the time to cut food into smaller pieces and chew carefully.
Ouch! What to Do When Discomfort Strikes After Getting Your Braces near Miami Lakes
When caring for your braces, keep in mind that pain is not “normal” but you might feel some discomfort after the initial fitting for your traditional braces. The discomfort should ease after a few days, but in the meantime there are some things you can do to care for your teeth while brackets or wires are irritating your cheeks or lips, or if you just have soreness overall due to an adjustment.
- Wax Relief: Apply a small amount of orthodontic wax to any sharp edges of brackets or wires that irritate you.
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Use for mild soreness after adjustments.
- Saltwater Rinse: Mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and swish gently.
If you are experiencing severe discomfort or pain, or your gums or cheeks are bleeding – make an appointment with our orthodontists to take a look. They might be able to make some adjustments to the ends of wires or brackets to keep them from rubbing.
Maintaining Your Braces: Partnering with Our Orthodontists Near Miami Lakes
Along with care for your teeth, being a good partner throughout the process can ensure your braces are successful, and your teeth stay healthy throughout the time you’re wearing braces. Here are some tips to help be a good partner with our team to improve your smile:
- Schedule Maintenance Appointments: Keep your scheduled appointments.
- Broken Brackets or Loose Wires: Contact your orthodontist as soon as possible.
- Lost Elastics: Keep a spare pack and let your orthodontist know if you lose any.
- Pre-Braces Appliances: Wear your appliances as prescribed – trying to fit an appliance into your mouth the day before your checkup when you haven’t worn it in a few weeks is painful and dangerous. If you don’t wear the prescribed appliance as indicated, your treatment may be behind schedule – and we’ll have to extend the time you’ll need the appliance.
- Retainers are necessary: After your braces have been removed, you’ll likely be given a retainer to hold your teeth in place. Not wearing your retainer as indicated by our orthodontists is one of the most prevalent reasons for teeth moving after having braces. Don’t throw away the months you wore those braces just because you don’t care to wear the retainer. It’s a must!
Miami Lakes, FL Brace Care Routine - Embrace The Process
Wearing braces can take some adjustment, but the payoff is worth it. Remember, countless Miami Lakers have achieved dazzling smiles with braces. Embrace the journey, take good care of your braces, and enjoy the compliments! While this guide serves as a general overview. Always follow the instructions provided by our orthodontists as closely as you can. Doing so will ensure you have a great smile for years to come.
