How to Maintain Your Teeth and Eat Properly While Wearing Braces

Braces are a modern way to improve your smile and chewing ability. However, in order to achieve the finest orthodontic results and safeguard your oral health, you must practice adequate care and eat a healthy diet. As a result, The East Rose Dental Clinic has prepared crucial suggestions for oral care and a healthy diet while undergoing this therapy.

Why is thorough oral care necessary during orthodontic treatment? 

During orthodontic treatment, teeth progressively shift to their ideal locations, leaving gaps between the teeth and the braces. This permits food particles and plaque to collect in difficult-to-clean regions. If not properly cleaned, this buildup can cause gum inflammation, cavities, and even bad breath.

Furthermore, brackets can harbour microorganisms, compromising dental health. As a result, maintaining thorough oral hygiene throughout the orthodontic process is critical to ensuring healthy teeth and achieving best treatment outcomes.

Read more: 15 common oral diseases and treatment

8 Effective strategies for oral care while wearing braces

Understanding the need of adequate oral care throughout orthodontic treatment and the serious implications of failing to provide it, you may be asking how to properly maintain your oral hygiene. The professionals at The East Rose Dental Clinic have compiled the following eight useful strategies to assist you maintain optimal oral health during your orthodontic journey. 

Brushing teeth properly

Proper brushing is essential throughout orthodontic treatment to maintain dental health. To clean around the brackets and between the teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head or an orthodontic brush specifically developed for braces. Brush at least 2-3 times a day, preferably after meals, to remove plaque and food particles. Brush carefully at a 45-degree angle to the gum line to avoid hurting the gums.

Using Fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride strengthens enamel, making your teeth more resistant to decay and reducing the risk of cavities during orthodontic treatment. Brackets and cables can trap food and make cleaning difficult, allowing bacteria to thrive. Fluoride toothpaste reduces plaque buildup and protects your teeth from the usual oral problems linked with braces.

Using dental floss

Daily flossing is a vital element of orthodontic treatment. Specialised or handle-equipped floss may readily clean between teeth that a toothbrush may overlook. By gently threading the floss around the brackets and cleaning each gap, you may avoid plaque development and bacteria growth, lowering the risk of gum inflammation and cavities, and guaranteeing good oral health.

Using mouthwash
In addition to brushing and flossing, using an antibacterial mouthwash is an effective way to safeguard your oral health while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Mouthwash with fluoride or antibacterial compounds strengthens enamel and reduces the incidence of cavities and gum inflammation. Rinse after each meal to remove leftovers and reduce plaque accumulation. This exercise not only cleans your teeth but also helps to avoid bad breath and maintains your breath fresh.

Using interdental brushes 

Interdental brushes are extremely useful equipment for cleaning around braces. Their compact size allows them to quickly access gaps between brackets and wires that ordinary toothbrushes may struggle with. Thorough cleaning of these regions helps to eliminate plaque and food particles, decreasing bacteria growth and lowering the risk of dental disorders including gum inflammation and cavities during orthodontic treatment.

Using a water flosser
A water flosser is an efficient dental hygiene tool, particularly for individuals wearing braces. It cleans between teeth and around brackets with a spray of pulsing water, gently eliminating food particles and grime while avoiding gum damage.

This device is perfect for cleaning regions that are tough to access with a toothbrush or dental floss. Regular use of a water flosser reduces gum inflammation, poor breath, and improves overall oral health during orthodontic treatment.

Regular scaling
Tartar accumulates more quickly during orthodontic treatment because braces and wires prevent proper cleaning. Plaque and food particles build up in hard-to-reach places, eventually becoming tartar. As a result, you should get your teeth properly scaled at least every 3-4 months. Failure to remove tartar promptly can cause gum inflammation, foul breath, and impede the progress of your orthodontic treatment.

Regular Check-ups with Your Orthodontist

During orthodontic treatment, it is critical to see your orthodontist every 4-6 weeks. These sessions are critical for modifying brackets and wires in accordance with the progression of your tooth movement, as well as diagnosing and correcting any emergent dental concerns as they arise. Your orthodontist will also perform a deep cleaning to remove plaque and bacteria that you may not be able to completely remove yourself.

What to Eat to Protect Your Oral Health During Orthodontic Treatment?

Diet is critical to achieving the best possible results from orthodontic treatment. What foods should you incorporate into your diet, and which should you avoid? We'll go over all the specifics below.

Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods
To safeguard your braces throughout orthodontic treatment, avoid eating hard and sticky foods. Foods such as hard candies, nuts, and crunchy snacks can cause brackets to loosen or shatter.
Furthermore, sticky items like gum and chewy candies can get lodged in the braces, making them difficult to clean. Avoiding these foods helps avoid damage to your braces and minimises the likelihood of bacteria growth, resulting in better oral hygiene.

Prioritize Soft and Easy-to-Chew Foods
Instead, choose soft, easy-to-chew foods to relieve strain on your teeth and braces. Soups, oatmeal, soft rice, eggs, tofu, and well-cooked meats are all suitable options. Fruits and vegetables should be sliced into small pieces or prepared to make chewing easier and reduce direct strain on your teeth. A moderate diet might help decrease discomfort during the early stages of orthodontic treatment.

Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods

Sugary and acidic foods, such as sodas, candy, and citrous fruits, might cause tooth damage during orthodontic treatment. They can erode enamel, raise the risk of cavities, and even damage your braces. To safeguard your teeth, minimise certain foods and properly clean them after eating. Using fluoride mouthwash or toothpaste can also assist to strengthen enamel and reduce the effects of acidic foods.

Supplement with Calcium and Vitamin D-Rich foods
During orthodontic treatment, meals high in calcium and vitamin D are crucial for the development and strengthening of your teeth and jawbone. Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, yoghurt, seafood, and leafy greens. Additionally, vitamin D, which may be gained from sunlight or foods such as salmon, mushrooms, and eggs, improves calcium absorption, so helping to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

Read more: 10 best oral care practices for beautiful and healthy teeth

Proper mouth care and a well-balanced diet are essential for getting the best results from orthodontic treatment. By following The East Rose Dental Clinic's instructions, you can safeguard your oral health, reduce future problems, and progress towards a flawless smile.