5 Tips for Taking Care of Teeth with Braces
Brushing and flossing are important for every child, but children with braces need to take extra-special care of their teeth to ensure their teeth and gums stay healthy while their braces work their magic. In addition to brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular dental checkups, remind your child of the following tips for daily oral hygiene success with braces.
5 Essential Care Tips for Teeth with Braces
1. Choose the Right Dental Care Tools
Follow Dr. Stewart’s instructions to make sure you have the appropriate toothpaste, mouth rinse, and other dental products. Plus, use a toothbrush with soft bristles to brush at a 45-degree angle. Then use an inter-ortho brush to clean between braces. Finally, try a floss threader, which makes creating a loop around teeth with braces much easier.
2. Cut Your Food
It might not be the coolest way to eat a candy bar, cheeseburger, or a slice of pizza, but you really should use a knife and fork to cut your food into bites rather than biting directly into it. When you bite into a sandwich or an apple, the force will push food underneath your braces. It’s tough to clean and also risks damaging the dental appliance.
3. Learn to Love Chocolate
If you aren’t allergic, chocolate should be the sweet treat of choice because it tends to have a lower sugar content and is also one of the least sticky sweets available. Gummies, hard candy, and chewing gum will easily get stuck in braces or can even damage them. Chocolate simply melts away – though this doesn’t mean you can skip brushing.
4. Lose Your Bad Habits
Chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or fingernails can damage braces. Try using foul-fasting, clear nail polish to help your child kick bad habits like biting their nails or chewing on pencils.
5. Keep Your Eye on the Prize
There are countless reasons why your child might resist following their orthodontist’s instructions: expanders can make it tough to talk, elastics snap, and headgear can be uncomfortable. Remind your child about the payoff in the end – no pain, a comfortable bite, easy chewing, and a straight smile!
Schedule a Braces Checkup with Our Dentist in Kenmore
Routine dental exams are always important, but if your child has braces, checkups and professional cleanings are essential to their ongoing oral health. We’ll make sure your child’s braces are in good shape and that their teeth are free from plaque and tartar buildup, while also checking the teeth and gums for early signs of decay or infection. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart for your child, contact Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry.
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