Tips for Caring for Your Braces

by Kevin Smith Author

It’s estimated that the average teen will wear braces for 18 to 36 months during their lifetime. A lot of that estimated time will depend on how much care and caution is observed by the patient. Get the most out of your time and dental braces cost in San Antonio, TX by following these tips and tricks.

Pass on Certain Foods

Sticky, crunchy, and hard foods aren’t the best idea when wearing braces. While your dentist will most likely give you a more definite list of foods to skip, be prepared to just say “no” to popcorn, caramels, and bubblegum. As tasty as they may be, sticky foods can easily become stuck within the brackets of your braces. With the sugars trapped against your teeth, it’s easier for decay to occur. Hard foods like pretzels and popcorn may not seem so bad, but they can cause serious damage to your braces. If you’re not careful, bands, wires, and brackets can snap as you eat crunchy food items.

Keep Them Clean

It’s extra hard to keep braces clean. With all of the grooves, wires, and brackets to work around, you may try and skip a brushing or flossing session from time to time. Not properly caring for your braces means not properly caring for your teeth. Don’t leave your teeth susceptible to decay. Instead, use a toothbrush with a soft head and brush after every meal. Carefully navigate your braces with floss to remove any trapped food particles. By keeping your braces clean, your smile will shine both now and once the brackets come off.

Protect Yourself

If you’re an athlete, it’s especially important to protect your mouth while you have braces. It’s easy to break a bracket or snap a wire while participating in sports. Whether you’re at practice or suiting up for a game, make sure you wear a mouthguard on both your upper and lower teeth to protect your teeth while playing. If an injury does occur, be sure to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Don’t Fix It Yourself

Loose brackets and wire ends can happen from time to time. If you’re dealing with broken braces, don’t try to fix it yourself. This can lead to tooth damage or an increased treatment time. Instead, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away. They’ll be able to examine your mouth and find the issue quickly. Soon, you’ll be on your way.

The time commitment and dental braces cost in San Antonio, TX means that you should care for your orthodontia carefully. By following these tips, you’ll be able to get those brackets off sooner rather than later.