TREAT Your Braces Right
Happy National Orthodontic Health Month! This is a great time to celebrate beautiful, healthy smiles, to learn more about the benefits or orthodontic treatment and the importance of good oral health.
Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth to improve their appearance and how they function. It can also help in the long-term care of your teeth, gums and jaw.
Some of the common reasons that people seek orthodontic treatment can include crooked or crowded teeth, prominent teeth (also known as buck teeth) or to correct a bite. Left untreated, these issues can result in future problems such as tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease or jaw problems.
Braces are a common appliance used to guide teeth into the correct place. Once the treatment is complete, a retainer will help hold your teeth where they need to be.
Orthodontic treatment is most commonly associated with kids and teens, however it is becoming more common for adults to seek treatment to correct long-standing problems or to address changes that may occur due to age.
If you are one of the millions of people currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, it can be increasingly difficult to protect your braces as we move forward into the holiday months.
With Halloween right around the corner and the potential for a lot of sugary goodies at hand, be sure to treat your braces right and keep your smile healthy and happy.
Time It Right
Eat Halloween candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals. This helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and rinse away food particles.
Stay Away From Sweet Snacks
Snacking can increase your risk of cavities, and it’s double the trouble if you keep grabbing sugary treats from the candy bowl.
Choose Candy Carefully
Try to avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. The length of time sugary foods stay in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay.
Avoid Sticky Situations
Candies such as taffy, gummy bears and caramel stick to your teeth which could cause to you to break brackets or damage wires.
Drink More Water
Drinking water can help prevent tooth decay and help remove food stuck around your brackets.
Brush Your Teeth
It’s important to brush twice a day for at least two minutes, and if possible brush after every meal to remove loose food from around brackets and wires.
