Once you are in treatment, it is extremely important to brush and floss regularly. This will ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy while you are in treatment. Success not only depends on the care and skill of the doctor, but the cooperation of the patient as well.
A few basic things to remember is to always follow Dr. Zhu’s instructions, avoid sticky candy, hard to chew foods, and to always keep your braces clean. This means wearing your rubber bands (if required), avoiding most candies and absolutely no nuts.
Properly Brushing with Braces
Extra time is needed when brushing your teeth. This is to ensure that all areas around and in between the braces have been properly cleaned. The goal is to remove plaque from around the teeth and along the gum lines. It is the bacteria in plaque that is responsible for causing inflamed gum tissue which can leads to gingivitis, decalcification, and tooth decay.
The proper way to brush is use gentle circular motions above and below the braces. Brush for 10 seconds around each tooth and do not forget to brush the inside surfaces as well.
Inter-Proximal brushes are brushes with a miniature “Christmas tree shaped” tip. You can purchase these at most drug stores – they make it easier to clean in between the braces and under the archwires.
Flossing simply requires an extra step – you must first thread the floss under the archwire. There are also special types of floss with a stiff end, called floss-threaders, which makes flossing with braces a bit easier.
Aside from brushing and flossing, regular mouth rinses should also be used – this will help to reduce the level of bacteria around the teeth.
Eating with Braces
A few days after getting your braces on or after an adjustment, you may feel some sensitivity or soreness in your teeth. During this time, you may need to stick to a diet of soft foods.
Over time you'll adjust and be able to eat normally again. Nonetheless, you'll always need to be careful when chewing to avoid damaging your braces. After eating, you should brush your teeth if possible or at least rinse your mouth to ensure that there is no residual food particles stuck on your braces.
Foods to Avoid
It is very important that you avoid sticky, chewy, hard, and crunchy foods. These types of foods can damage your braces, cause unnecessary complications, and extend your treatment time by many months.
Here is a brief list of foods that you should absolutely avoid:
Bubble gum, caramel, gummy candy, taffy, peanuts, almonds, cashews, popcorn, and bagels.
There are many food items are not listed above, you should always use common sense when deciding what to eat. A rule of thumb is that if it looks hard or sticky, you should avoid eating it. Also, with fruits such as apple or pears, make sure to cut it into bite size pieces before eating.
Dental Cleanings
During your treatment it is highly recommended that you keep your check up appointments with your general dentist. You will still able to get your regular cleanings while you are in braces.
General Soreness
From time to time, you may feel some soreness in your gums or irritation due to the braces. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or taking Tylenol will help ease the discomfort.
The inside of your lips and cheeks may become irritated for a while as they become accustomed to rubbing on the surface of your braces. If this happens, brace wax can be applied to the braces to alleviate the irritation.
