Getting your teeth straightened is a commitment of time, effort, and money from both the patient and the parent. Everyone wants to come out on the other end with a sparkling smile! That’s why dental care during treatment is so important. In this post, we’ll lend you some tips to help you care for your smile while you’re wearing braces.
Clean Your Teeth Regularly
We’re always going to tell you to stay on top of your brushing and flossing routine. However, it’s especially important during your orthodontic treatment. This is because any cavities or decay that develop or get worse during treatment could throw a wrench in your treatment plan. So that means keep up with your twice daily brushing. Set a timer or choose a favorite song to prompt you to brush for two full minutes each time. Floss daily, too. Flossing might seem impossible with wires and brackets, but we’ll be happy to teach you how to do it with ease.
Follow the Rules
When you or your child gets braces, our orthodontist will outline some basic rules to follow, and possibly some at-home instructions, too. The basics will include what to avoid eating. It’s important to stick to the restrictions or you could risk damaging the braces, or even your teeth, and requiring more and/or longer work. Also be sure to follow any instructions given, including wearing elastics, wearing your retainer, or anything of that nature. This will ensure that your braces treatment goes as smoothly as possible and you end up with the results you desire.
Protect Your Mouth
It's important to protect your teeth and mouth from injury while wearing braces. Talk to us about a mouthguard for the athletes in your family who wear braces. Custom mouthguards are more comfortable and therefore more likely to get used. Knocking brackets off while playing contact sports can set back the treatment timetable. While wearing braces, the gums are also more susceptible to injury from contact sports.
Braces & More at Helotes Pediatric Dentistry
Whether it's braces, or something else, you can count on us for stellar smile care. Here at our San Antonio, Texas office we aim to make dental care straightforward, easy, and fun for children of all ages. Give us a call or click the contact link to request your next visit.
Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0
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