4 Tricks for Living With Braces

It seems wearing braces is something of a rite of passage these days. In fact, 50-70% of American kids will wear braces at some point. While it’s common, adjusting to life with braces can be a challenge.

Here are great ways to adapt:

1. Avoid sticky and chewy foods. Certain foods are more challenging with braces, but the most problematic ones are sticky and chewy foods such as gum and taffy, hard or crunchy foods such as nuts, hard candies, carrots and corn. Try to avoid them since they can damage the wires and brackets.
2. Clean your teeth thoroughly. It’s a bit more challenging with braces, but keeping up good oral hygiene now is more important than ever. Braces create many little spaces that food can get trapped in, which can cause plaque buildup that leads to cavities. It is extremely important that you brush thoroughly after every meal, floss daily, and use mouthwash.
3. Don�t stress about loose teeth. This may initially cause alarm, but don’t worry it’s part of the process! Your teeth must loosen in order to move into a new position. As soon as they settle into the right place, they will stop feeling loose.
4. Leave fixes to a pro. If your bands or wires become loose or break, visit your orthodontist right away. Do not try to fix the broken part yourself. If a wire is sticking out and causing discomfort, cover it with a wet cotton ball or a bit of wax until you can fit in a visit.

Sources:

• https://www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/bracescare.html
• https://www.waterpik.com/oral-health/pro/clinical-research/water-flosser-reduce-plaque-bleeding-adolescents-braces-sharma-2008/
• http://blog.deltadental.com/2013/02/21/braces/
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/braces.html#
• http://www.winghavenortho.com/decalcification.php