Braces are the best and simplest way to get your teeth straight, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t want them off as quickly as possible. In fact, the number one question patients ask us is how can they get their braces off sooner? For braces to be effective it typically takes a couple months to a few years to straighten your mouth but that doesn’t mean that you can’t help the process go faster. Here are four simple ways for you to get your braces off faster: Listen To Your Dentist Follow any and all instructions given by your dentist. If you are given rubber bands or head gear to wear, you need to wear them. Wearing 2 or 3 bands for a shorter amount of time will make things worse. It is also important that you make all your dental appointments so the dentist can adjust your treatment plan if needed. Keep Your Mouth Clean Brushing and flossing twice a day is one of the simplest and most effective ways to get your braces off faster. With braces and bands, it’s easier for food to get stuck in the metal; using an electric tooth brush and brushing in a circular motion will prevent plaque build-up. The healthier your teeth and gums are, the faster the braces can straighten your teeth.
Watch What You Eat Sticky foods like caramels, gummies, gum and toffees can stick to the brace brackets and prevent them from working properly. Sodas and other bubbly beverages along with sugary foods can damage your tooth’s enamel and prevent the braces from aligning. Avoid crunching ice because it can damage the braces and watch out for foods like nuts and popcorn that can get stuck in the braces. Chew Only Real Food: If you’re in the habit of chewing on pen caps, biting your nails or nibbling on anything that’s not food can damage the braces. This may seem like a list of “don’ts” but by following these four simple tips you can get a straighter smile even sooner than you expected!
Braces treatment fulfills your dream of a straight and aligned smile. But are you aware of the oral care required while on braces? You need to put a considerable amount of work into your dental hygiene while the braces take care of your misaligned teeth.
If you are not committed enough for the work on your part, you may face the consequences like yellow teeth, tooth decay, and even crooked teeth. But one reassuring fact is that you will get used to all the precautions with the progress of your treatment. And it will not seem like a lot of work at that time.
Presenting 7 simple and proven tips to protect your teeth with braces –
- Brush Teeth Properly: A simple task like brushing your teeth gets tricky with braces. You can’t be harsh on teeth; otherwise, you may end up breaking or dislodging brackets. Simultaneously, you also need to put some pressure to make sure no food residue is left. Thus a toothbrush with softer bristles is required. Rinse properly before brushing. Cover all the teeth in your mouth. The angle of your brush should be targeting to eradicate every single food particle.
- Floss Regularly: Did you know that between brush and floss, flossing removes 40% of plaque? Floss reaches where a brush can’t reach. Thus it is important to floss after every meal. You might be thinking, how can you floss with braces? You can use a floss threaded while on braces.
- Clean Your Tongue: A clean tongue encourages fresh breath. Thus it is advisable to clean your tongue regularly. Apart from getting rid of stinky breath, tongue cleaning helps you remove bacteria sitting in your mouth. It is essential to keep your tongue extra clean because bacteria should be removed from your mouth before they get caught inside your braces brackets.
- Use Oral Irrigator: Brushing and flossing do remove the bacteria. But it would help if you do additional cleaning. An oral irrigator is a device that cleans the tiniest particle of food residues and plaque from your mouth. There is a small water tank with-in an oral irrigator. Water gets pumped out of that tank with a small wand. The wand dislodges the plaque with the help of moderate pressure from the water. This process cleans your gums, braces, and teeth deeply. Your dentist may suggest how many times a week you should use an oral irrigator.
- Visit Your Orthodontist: Your orthodontist will provide you with a timeline of your check-ups. Don’t skip those due dates. It is vital to check the progress of your treatment. They can prevent any other dental health problem from aggravating. They can check for loose braces and if any crooked teeth treatment is required.
- Eat Soft Foods: Your orthodontist will give you a list of dos and don’ts of your diet. Follow those guidelines diligently. The most common instruction for diet while on braces is to eat soft food. At the same time, avoid hard and sticky foods. For example consuming nuts, hard fruits, fibrous veggies, popcorn, etc., is a big no. You can be friends with yogurt, bananas, soups, ice cream, and other soft foods.
- Quit Smoking: Apart from damaging your lungs, smoking robs your mouth of your saliva. Bacteria and cavities stuck to the surface of your teeth for a longer duration in the absence of saliva. Quit smoking for your overall health, including dental health.
Conclusion
You expect that your bite problems will be resolved after wearing the braces for the prescribed time. But merely wearing the braces is not enough. You need to follow your dentist’s instructions to the T.
Your orthodontist will advise you to eat the correct diet, maintain regular dental check-ups, prescribed pain relief remedies, and oral hygiene. One of the non-negotiable braces care is to visit your orthodontist regularly according to their instructions. They can check for the treatment’s progress and if any underlying dental health issue is cropping up. Alternatively, if your braces get damaged or broken, you should immediately contact your orthodontist
