Braces prove to be the right solution for overlapping or misaligned teeth. A beautiful smile is effectively promised upon wearing braces. However, if you do not maintain them the right way, things might turn out to be uglier. Here are some tips you can use to take care of your braces and get the most out of orthodontic treatment.

Do Without Sticky or Sugary Foods
Toffee, Caramels and chewing gum stick is strictly not recommended. These food particles get trapped in the wires and brackets, thereby leading to cavity or gum disease. High sugar content food should be avoided as oral bacteria resides on them to produce acid. This acid eats away tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. On coming in contact with your teeth for a longer time, these food particles make your teeth prone to cavities. This is the reason you should avoid highly acidic beverages like soda, coffee, carbonated drinks and so on.

During the straightening process, you should take all the necessary precautions to avoid getting cavities. If you still want to consume sugary drinks, use a straw. It will minimize contact with your teeth.

Skip on Hard Foods
Once the braces are fitted immediately, each adjustment is done at the clinic on a periodic basis. We generally advise our patients to consume soft food and continue to a normal diet after some time. Hard foods risk the damaging process even more. So, you should certainly avoid them.

Nuts, frozen food, beef and popcorn contribute to damaging the wire of braces and also loosen them. Other food types like carrot and apples also turn out to be problematic as they move the braces along when you bite them with your front teeth.

Adopt healthier food eating habits like cutting and chewing food into bite-size. This will make them easier to chew slowly. Crushing the ice cubes is also an unhealthy habit. So, you must take care of that too.

Brush and floss regularly
Take out the time and effort to brush, clean and floss your teeth on a regular basis. It will help you avoid problems like inflamed gum, tooth decay, and tooth decalcification. Flossing helps to get rid of plaque build-up. It also removes any kind of smaller food particles that are stuck in braces or between your teeth. You can either use floss threaders for braces as they help you move around your brackets.

When flossing, you need to be gentle enough and try not to apply too much pressure as it could damage your braces.

If you are wearing braces, you should be doing possibly anything to maintain them. Listed above are some of the simple ways that will help you maintain the appeal and functionality of your braces. Follow them wisely to see noticeable results in the long run.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.