Orthodontics, commonly known as braces are a method used to straighten the teeth a provide a more dazzling smile, leading to increased self-confidence; as well as a method to ease oral care, since straighter teeth are easier to clean hence decreasing the risk for tooth decay and gum disease. However, it is crucial to take into consideration the fact that oral hygiene is essential for attractive teeth and gums even after you remove your braces. Before considering whether to move forward with the decisions of having braces, there is important information you need to know concerning how to keep your teeth and braces clean for the duration that you have them. If your oral hygiene routine is insufficient, you run the risk of having white spots around your braces among other things. Brushing and flossing with braces requires extra effort but that effort will pay off in the long run.
How your teeth look when your braces come off depends entirely on what you have been doing with regards to your oral hygiene routine during the period you had them on. An electric toothbrush designed to clean around orthodontic appliances can help. Before you get started, you might need to remove elastics, bands or removable parts of your orthodontic appliances.
While it can be difficult, for healthy teeth and gums, flossing with braces is still very important. This process will require inevitably that you remove all the removable parts of your braces before you start. Ask your orthodontist to show you the steps of removing the parts and reinstalling them after you’re done.
Rinsing twice a day after brushing your teeth can help prevent cavities, strengthen enamel, and freshen breath. Use a fluoride, alcohol-free mouthwash.
Knowing how orthodontics work can help you prepare for the braces pain you might experience. Braces place continuous pressure on the teeth to slowly move them into a different position. The key components of braces are:
- Brackets: A bracket is attached to each tooth or to a band placed around the tooth. Brackets hold the wires that actually cause the teeth to move. Braces pain associated with brackets may include pain from the band or the brackets.
- Wires: The wires used for braces are known as arch wires. They are attached to the brackets, and an orthodontist adjusts them at regular visits. Sometimes braces pain occurs soon after the braces are adjusted.
Braces are used primarily to correct misaligned teeth to improve appearance and dental health, but braces pain can be uncomfortable. The exact cause of braces pain is unknown, but it may be attributed to internal factors such as changes in blood flow that occur when the braces apply pressure to the teeth, or external factors such as the physical rubbing of the brackets and wires in the soft tissue inside the mouth. This type of braces pain usually lessens with time, as the tissues become tougher and by using orthodontic wax to dull the sharpness of the brackets.
Many products are available to provide relief of braces pain. For pain associated with the pressure of the braces, try over-the-counter pain-relieving products, either oral or topical. It is also highly recommended that you eat soft foods like pasta and soft cooked vegetables for the first few days. Using a soft brush can also help ease the pain. Ask your dentist for recommendations if your braces pain persists.
It is worth mentioning that if you play contact sports while wearing orthodontics, be sure to use a mouth guard. Being hit or falling during sports can cause brackets to break or wires to come loose, which causes braces pain and adds to the expense of orthodontic care.
Braces pain can be uncomfortable, but wearing braces to improve your bite can help to eliminate other types of mouth and tooth pain caused by misaligned teeth.