By: Denise Go If you have a problem with the alignment of your teeth, braces are your best friend. Braces are fun and terrifying, fun because you know that after braces, your teeth will be aligned and you can now smile as wide as you want, and terrifying because you would have to tolerate the pain and avoid food that are not good for your braces. Here are three of the things you should keep in mind while you have your braces: Always brush your teeth. Technically, you should always brush after very meal to remove unnecessary food particles attached to your braces. The longer the food particles are trapped in your teeth the more risk you have in developing dental problems. Try to use a toothbrush with soft round bristles and twice a day is the standard oral care recommendation. Before you start brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with water to loosen food particles stuck in your braces. It is also important to brush each tooth at the gum line and both above and below the brackets. Afterwards, clean the brackets at downward angle on top of the brackets and brushing at an upward angle at the bottom of the brackets and then rinse after brushing. Floss daily. Flossing at least once a day is a big help for your teeth. Flossing helps in removing the tiny particles which are stuck in between your teeth because brushing alone is not enough; flossing can reach the parts where your toothbrush can’t reach. You don’t only floss between your braces but also under the wire. In order for your floss to go under the wire, use an orthodontic flosser or floss threader. After flossing, you can also use a mouthwash to kill any bacteria left in your mouth. Watch what you eat. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, teeth with braces need extra attention to protect them from decay, gum diseases, and staining. Prevent from eating sticky or chewy sweets and crunchy or hard food in order to avoid damaging the braces. Once those sticky or chewy foods are stuck in your braces, it will be nightmare for you. Plaques build up around the bracket if you eat too much sugary food that causes the staining of the teeth, causing cavities and leading to gum disease. Foods such as ice, nuts, and popcorn can break the wires of the braces and the loosening of the brackets. Crunchy and hard foods can also damage the wire, because of its hard texture. Keeping your teeth healthy is a must, especially if you are wearing braces. That’s why always remember that it’s okay to eat a lot of food but make sure that the food you are eating will not cause any damage to your braces. If you really can’t resist eating hard or crunchy food, try cutting them into tiny bite-size pieces.
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