Dental braces are devices, which are applied to correct different dental irregularities. They are also referred to as orthodontic braces, as they are used for orthodontic treatment. You can straighten crooked teeth as well as improve the aesthetics of your smile with the help of dental braces. Orthodontic braces are also used to correct certain problems due to misalignment of teeth such as overbites, open bites, underbites and cross bites. Dental braces are fitted more commonly in childhood than in adulthood, because jaw bones and bones surrounding the teeth are more pliable in children. Major types of dental braces are brackets which are made up of clear or tooth-colored ceramic, stainless steel or plastic, lingual-type brackets which are attached to back of the teeth and traditional bands which are metal brackets. During your orthodontic treatment, you should be very careful about cleanliness and maintenance of dental braces. Let's understand how to take care of dental braces.
Care of Dental Braces
Take appropriate care of dental braces is the best way to ensure dental health. Regular cleanliness and general dental care is very essential during orthodontic treatment. When you have dental braces, it may be difficult for you to chew food or brush your teeth. But, you can easily manage these things with certain precautions.
Cleaning Dental Braces
There is a possibility of accumulation of food and plaque in between small nooks and crannies created by bonded brackets. This can lead to tooth decay. This can be prevented by regular brushing of teeth after every meal. Take enough time to brush thoroughly using fluoride toothpaste. There are some special types of toothbrushes, which are helpful to clean dental braces. You can try an electronic toothbrush, which helps to clean the high-risk areas. You can also use a proxy brush to clean the areas in between the teeth. Flossing is essential to clean your teeth and braces. You can use toothpicks or other interdental devices to clean the areas under brackets. You should use medicated mouthwash after each brushing in order to remove food particles and bacteria from dental braces. While brushing your teeth, take care that brush should not damage the braces.
Eating with Dental Braces
When you are under orthodontic treatment, you may find it difficult to chew food. You should avoid chewing hard, sticky foods such as hard bubble gum, hard nuts, chips, popcorn, hard bread crusts, apples or carrots, as these foods can damage your braces. Also avoid foods and drinks that contain excess sugar or starch, because they can cause rapid growth of bacteria in your mouth. This can lead to tooth decay due to acid production by bacteria. Don’t forget to brush every time after having snacks or meals.
Dental Braces and Sports
During orthodontic treatment, you should be quite careful when participating in sport activities. While playing sports, there is a possibility of getting hit in the mouth. It can cause damage to dental braces. Therefore, you should wear a specially designed mouth guard in order to avoid any damage to orthodontic appliance and teeth.
Dental Braces and Medications
According to the latest researches, certain medications such as aspirin can decrease the number of osteoclasts, by inhabiting prostaglandin secretions. This can minimize orthodontic tooth movement, resulting in extended duration of orthodontic treatment. Therefore, medications that contain aspirin should be avoided during orthodontic treatment.
A successful orthodontic treatment with good care of dental braces and proper dental hygiene offers an improved facial appearance by removing dental irregularities.
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