Adjusting to wearing braces, or any other orthodontic appliance, is bound to take a little time. To help you through this adjustment period here are some tips from our Langley orthodontist, on how to make life with braces as simple as possible.
What to Expect
Your mouth will go through a lot of changes over the course of your orthodontic treatment.
Getting an early understanding what to expect from your orthodontic treatment, and how to care for your teeth and braces, can help you to start off on the right foot.
Eating
Having braces it doesn't mean that you have to stop eating all the foods you enjoy.
You will just need to exercise caution when deciding what to eat. By being careful, and keeping a few limitations in mind, you'll be able to eat the majority of the foods you love without hurting your teeth or damaging your braces.
Oral Hygiene
Keep in mind that brushing and flossing regularly will be more important than ever, now that you have braces. To keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment, careful, thorough brushing at least twice a day, and flossing regularly are essential!
Caring for your Braces or Dental Appliance
To stay on track with your treatment schedule you will need to take good care of your braces or dental appliance.
Removable appliances need to be cleaned at least twice a day when you brush and floss your teeth.
To help improve the taste of your appliance, and prevent the accumulation of plaque and bacteria, soak your appliance in denture cleaner regularly.
That said, soaking only makes cleaning your appliance easier. Soaking does not take the place of brushing and cleaning your appliance!
Retainer & Expander Instructions
If you have a retainer or expander, it's important to understand how to care for your dental appliance. Complete instructions on proper care are available HERE.
Athletic Mouth Guards
If you play sports, it's a good idea to wear an athletic mouth guard to protect your braces and your smile. Braces should never get in the way of having your best game ever!