3 Things You Can Do to Take Care Of Your Braces

Your braces are important tools for straightening your teeth and correcting problems with your bite. You can help straighten your teeth faster by caring for your braces.

Your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, can help by providing you with good advice about braces maintenance and care. Below, we’ve listed three things you can do to take care of your braces and avoid problems with your teeth or the braces themselves.

1. Eat the Right Foods

Hard, crusty foods can cause your braces to break. Sticky, tacky candies like caramel can stick to your braces, making your braces difficult to clean. You can avoid these problems by eating foods that are soft and unlikely to damage your braces (or stick to them). Yogurt, oatmeal, and soups are all good examples of the types of food that can help you take care of your braces.

Some foods to avoid include:

• Hard, crusty bread
• Hard nuts like almonds
• Hard candies
• Sticky candies

2. Floss

It’s tempting to stop flossing once braces are put on your teeth. Braces can make flossing difficult because the wires get in the way of floss. It’s important to keep flossing even after braces have been installed.

Your dentist can show you how to floss. Your dentist may also recommend tools for flossing that can get around braces, like water floss or orthodontic floss. Either way, keep up your flossing habit, even after braces are installed.

3. Visit Your Orthodontist Regularly

Your orthodontist can help catch problems with your braces before they become serious. Visit your orthodontist if you’re noticing a problem with your braces in Franklin, TN, and keep up with your regular appointments to adjust your braces.