Protecting Your Smile: Taking Care of Braces

Ceramic, metal, Invisalign, and more: there are so many types of braces for tiny teeth and adult adjustments. But there is one thing that all braces have in common. Braces take a lot of extra care, work, and cleaning to make your beautiful smile even better. From the time that your braces are put on to the moment they are removed, taking care of your teeth becomes a top priority.  

Orthodontic treatment is an important investment in your smile. And while braces may seem like a lot of trouble, there are many tips and tricks that we recommend for all of our patients to protect your mouth and keep a healthy grin while undergoing treatment.  

So, the big question is just that: how do you take care of your teeth with braces on? Well, we have wonderful news for all of our patients: it’s not all bad. There are three important things that we recommend for correcting big and little smiles. First, make sure that you’re enjoying a braces-friendly diet. Second, daily brushing and flossing is an absolute must. And third, schedule regular visits to your La Jolla orthodontist office to maintain a healthy, happy smile for your whole treatment! 

Changing your smile often means that you’ll also need to change your diet. A good diet will keep your braces undamaged and your teeth strong while fixing up your smile. What is on the menu when you sit down to eat?  

There are three things to avoid when picking your diet: acidic, sugary, and crunchy foods and drinks. These meals and snack options cause tooth enamel damage, bend braces, or even break wires in your mouth. Soda, nachos, hard candies, potato chips, popcorn, hard breads, and chewing gum are just a few delicious but dangerous foods that fall into these categories. It is also important to remember that there are healthy foods that can hurt your braces during your orthodontic treatment time. Nuts as well as hard fruits and vegetables, like carrots and apples, should be cut up into small pieces before enjoying. Yes, your braces will limit some of your enjoyable snacking. But the good news is that you’ll still be able to have a full, balanced diet while your teeth are adjusting!

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing is extra important for maintaining a healthy mouth. However, braces easily trap bacteria and food particles inside and around the wires, brackets, and bands when you eat. Brushing your teeth and braces after meals, flossing, and checking your braces should become part of your daily routine. Without proper daily care, little problems can end up turning into big ones – like advanced tooth decay, enamel damage, or gingivitis. Whether you’re making the adjustment with traditional braces or Invisalign, careful cleaning is the secret to straight and healthy teeth!  

We always love to see your smile in our office, but especially when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. Big and little grins need extra care and attention with traditional braces, Invisalign, and ceramic braces – so make sure that you visit your orthodontist regularly for check-ups. At your regular appointments, your orthodontist will make adjustments and check to make sure you’re staying on track for happy, healthy results. In addition, make extra appointments for any unusual pain, tightness, discomfort, or damage that occurs between regular checkups. You and your groms are always welcome at Hagan Orthodontics + Kids Dental, so be sure to visit our La Jolla orthodontics office – where we’re correcting smiles of all shapes and sizes.