WHEN you have braces on teeth, those teeth need extra attention to protect them from decay, staining and gum disease.

You should also take precautions to avoid damaging the braces. For example, activities to avoid include eating chewy or sticky sweets, eating hard or crunchy foods, biting your lip, breathing excessively through your mouth, and pushing your tongue against your teeth.

Brushing

Although brushing twice a day is the standard oral care recommendation, when you wear braces you should brush after every time you eat. That’s because food particles easily become trapped in the braces and the longer those particles stay trapped, the greater risk you have of developing dental problems.

Use a soft toothbrush with round bristles, or an electric toothbrush if you prefer.

Start by rinsing your mouth with water to loosen food stuck in and around your braces. It’s important to brush each tooth at the gum line and both above and below the brackets. Brush your gum line first, holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle. Next, clean the brackets by brushing at a downward angle on top of the brackets and brushing at an upward angle at the bottom of the brackets. Rinse again after brushing.

Flossing

Creating a flossing routine is important during orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists and hygienists may recommend interdental brushes or floss threaders to make getting in-between teeth easier. Flossing after meals will help you get rid of food particles jammed between your teeth or in the wiring of your braces and on the brackets.

Be gentle with the floss. Thread it carefully between the tooth and the braces’ wire, then work it slowly back and forth between the teeth and braces. Remember that too much force when flossing can damage your braces.

Foods to skip

Your orthodontist will give you a list of foods to avoid when you have braces on your teeth. A good rule of thumb is to skip any sticky, chewy or hard foods.

Sticky foods, such as caramels or gummy candy, are likely to get stuck. Crunchy foods such as popcorn or hard pretzels can also get lodged in the braces or can cause them to snap when you take a bite.

Additional tips

If you are caught without a toothbrush, vigorously rinse your mouth with water (or mouthwash) and brush as soon as possible. Also, if your braces or wires chafe the inside of your lips, you can place a special wax on them to prevent this from happening.

For the month of June, Dental Place Cosmetix Spa will be offering free dental exams with your cleanings. A $2,500.00 savings.

Dr Sharon Robinson DDS has offices at the Dental Place Cosmetix Spa located at Shop #5, Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. Dr Robinson is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, School of Oral Health Sciences. She may be contacted at 630-4710. Like their