3 Things You Should Continue To Do With Braces

When you first get braces, you might think that you can let other dental habits fall by the wayside while you have your braces on. However, this is not the case. There are a number of things that you should continue doing when you have braces in order to ensure that you don't end up damaging your teeth over time.

Flossing

One of the hardest things for a person with braces to do is get food out of their teeth. Floss may not seem necessary to those without braces, but once the metal goes on, flossing teeth becomes a must. Without this, food can be stuck in your wires for days, leading to rotten teeth in the long run. In addition to this, they make miniature flossing tools to help make the process simple and quick to save time and effort. These are highly recommended, as without them the process becomes much more tedious.

 Dentist Visits

Though bombarded with information from your orthodontist, you shouldn't forget to schedule visits with your local dentist. Some people think that once you begin the braces process, you can't continue your regular dental cleanings. However, this is a great way to get help and suggestions on cleaning as well as a thorough cleaning of your teeth, as many dentists have personally had braces or regularly work on people with braces. This is a valuable tool in keeping your teeth clean during your time with braces.

Continuous Brushing

Despite the constant nagging from dentists and commercials to brush regularly and floss daily, when you get braces it actually is crucial. The braces allow for more food to get stuck on the surface of your teeth, which can amplify the tooth decay you've had previously. Not only this, but brushing regularly helps save yourself from embarrassment of the food that you can't see in your braces without a mirror. Brushing after every meal is highly recommended, but at the very least brushing two times per day will ensure that you don't complicate your time having braces by giving plaque and bacteria ways to grow out of control and foster tooth decay.

Make sure that you stay on top of your oral health while you have braces in order to prevent advanced tooth decay as well as cosmetic damage to your teeth. If you need more dental tips, talk to your orthodontist about things that you can do to keep your teeth healthy during your orthodontic treatment.