Most people don’t wish for braces. After all, they can be uncomfortable, make you feel self-conscious, and limit what you can eat and drink. But the truth is, sometimes we need braces to fix crooked teeth or an uneven bite.
You may wonder if those drawbacks of braces outweigh the good braces do for your dental health. If you’re curious about the damage braces can do to the healthy parts of your teeth, keep reading to learn more!
Will Braces Affect the Health of My Teeth?
One of the biggest misconceptions about braces is that they cause discoloration or decay of your tooth’s enamel. But the truth is that braces themselves won’t cause any damage to your pearly whites!
Any change in color to your teeth while you have braces is actually from oral hygiene. Whether you have braces or not, sugar and bacteria stick to your teeth and cause problems when you don’t brush. Wearing braces adds a little bit of a challenge to dental hygiene habits since there are a lot of tiny areas where that sugar and bacteria can hide.
How Can I Care for My Braces?
Don’t think that just because you have braces, you have to sacrifice your beautiful, bright, and shiny smile! You can keep your teeth happy and healthy—even with braces—by using these 13 tips.
- • Remove any rubber bands before brushing.
- • Use toothpaste with fluoride.
- • Brush your teeth after each meal.
- • Brush for two minutes every time.
- • Use a soft bristle toothbrush.
- • Floss at least once a day.
- • Use a water flosser.
- • Use a fluoride-based mouthwash.
- • Check your smile in the mirror to make sure you did a good job brushing and flossing.
- • Avoid chewy, hard, and sticky foods.
- • Minimize sugary drinks.
- • Don’t bite your nails.
- • Wear a mouthguard if playing sports.
Another great way to make sure you’re taking care of your teeth is to keep up with your orthodontic appointments. Braces work slowly; they’re adjusting your teeth to where they need to be bit by bit. This means you need regular checkups to get them tightened and checked for any loose wires. Your orthodontist visits are also a good time to check for any decay and get a good cleaning!
Get a Braces Check-up at Heroes Dental!
Living with braces can be challenging, but we can still protect our teeth from decay and discoloration. Keeping your braces and teeth clean can be tricky, but Heroes Dental is here to help!
Our orthodontics and general dentistry team can help you maintain your braces and keep your smile healthy and shining bright! If it’s time for a checkup, you know what to do. Reach out to our team to schedule an appointment today!