Metal braces are frequently used to straighten teeth and are the most cost-effective. According to Humana Statistics, over 4 million people in the US wear braces. Knowing how to care for them will help straighten your teeth faster and keep them working properly. Here are five few ways to care for your metal braces.
1. Brushing, Flossing, and Using Mouthwash
With metal braces, you will want to choose the right toothbrush, mouthwash, and floss recommended by your dentist. Your orthodontist will recommend a small toothbrush with soft to medium bristles to brush your metal braces. They will recommend toothpaste with fluoride to protect your teeth.
Brush the braces using light circular motions, you should clean the braces and the teeth. Rinse your mouth out with warm water or a recommended mouthwash that will not tarnish your metal braces or remove elastics. Flossing is the next step to removing the food particles between the teeth. Almost 100% of tanks containing water that humans use will require protective coating and lining to keep water safe. Clean water is important for cleaning your braces.
2. Using an Oral Irrigator
An oral irrigator is ideal for cleaning braces because it uses a pressurized stream of water to clean between your teeth and below your gum line. Flossing is hard with braces and those with sensitive gums or little patience will like this appliance because it removes more food and plaque than flossing. It keeps gums and teeth healthy, reduces plaque and bacteria, and reduces gum bleeding.
It is an extra way to keep your braces clean and sanitary. It is simple and fast to use another effective lifestyle change. According to the EPA, a leaky faucet with a drip can waste 3,000 gallons of water per year if not repaired. Repair faucets in the bathroom as you use the sink to brush your teeth or braces and wash your hands and face. You can purchase oral irrigators at Walmart and other home improvement stores and drugstores to use with your metal braces. They are a worthwhile investment because they remove more food particles and bacteria.
3. Cleaning Out Food and Beverages
Rinse your mouth with warm water to remove food particles from the braces. Brush your teeth and braces gently to remove food and sugar from the teeth and metal parts. Brush all the metal brackets and teeth on the front and back. Rinse again with warm water or mouthwash. You may want to brush after breakfast, lunch, and dinner to remove food particles that collect in metal braces.
4. Eating the Right Foods
When you have metal braces, there is food you should avoid as they will break them. Then, you will have to go to the orthodontist and have them repaired. Foods to avoid are sticky candy, chewing gum, caramels, gumdrops, and taffy. Other foods that are hard to eat are crusty bread, peanut butter, popcorn, hard fruit not sliced, whole nuts or seeds, and hard crunchy vegetables. Tough meats that are hard to chew can be hard on metal braces.
Foods that you can eat with metal braces are cooked vegetables, lean meats, fish, poultry, soft fruits, yogurt, soft bread that are easy to chew, and nut butter like peanut butter and jam. You can eat soups, stews, beans, and salad made with softer, less crunchy vegetables. You can eat pizza by cutting it with a fork or knife and fruit too. When your children have braces, you may have to supervise what they eat and how they eat it. These are the lifestyle changes we recommend.
5. Visiting an Orthodontist
Visit your orthodontist for a checkup and repairs to your metal braces. They sometimes break or need strengthening or making minor changes. Your orthodontist may give you instructions on what to use to clean your teeth or tell you to wear an appliance at night. They can tell you the lifestyle changes to make to keep your metal braces looking good.
When you care for your metal braces and follow these five tips, you can expect to have a great set of teeth in no time!
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