It’s important to take proper care of your braces in order to maintain your oral health and enjoy excellent results.
More and more adults are choosing to undergo orthodontic treatment, so if you have always wanted a straighter smile but never had the opportunity to get braces as a child, it’s not too late. If you do decide to go ahead with the treatment, there are a few things worth bearing in mind. Read on for our top tips on taking care of your braces (and teeth) throughout your orthodontic journey and what you should know as an adult patient…
1. Establish a proper oral hygiene routine
It is very important that you practise proper oral hygiene habits whilst you wear braces. This will help to maintain your oral health and keep issues like stains, bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay at bay. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal or snack that you eat, making sure to clean around the gumline and below the brackets where plaque tends to accumulate.
Flossing regularly will also help to get rid of plaque. You might find it easier to use a floss threader or orthodontic flosser rather than regular floss while you have braces. Water flossers are also an effective solution when it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
2. Be mindful of your diet
Although it is possible to enjoy a varied and balanced diet while you have braces, there are a few foods that are best avoided. Foods that are particularly chewy, hard or crunchy, for example, can cause serious damage to the components of your braces, and could cause your brackets and wires to break or your brackets to detach from the surface of your teeth.
It is also advisable that you limit your consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks that tend to contribute to the build-up of plaque. Plaque can be difficult to remove when you have braces, and if left to accumulate, can lead to issues like gum disease and tooth decay, as well as unsightly stains on the surface of the teeth.
3. Be aware of special considerations as an adult
Although there are a number of orthodontic solutions available for adults nowadays, and it is possible to achieve excellent results later in life, it is important to understand that there are certain age-related factors that could affect your treatment. Factors like bone structure and loss will need to be considered, and in some cases, gaps left by previous extractions could impact your treatment plan. When you see your dentist for your initial consultation, they will perform a thorough assessment to look for any potential issues and let you know what the best way forward is, depending on your needs.
Another factor to consider about getting braces as an adult is the cosmetic implications of undergoing orthodontic treatment. Some adults do not like the idea of having traditional metal braces, in which case they may choose to go for clear aligners instead.
How can we help?
At Somerset Dental Care, we offer a number of orthodontic options, including braces. Braces remain a popular choice thanks to their ability to achieve effective results in a dependable way. If you are considering the treatment and would like to know whether you are a suitable candidate, we encourage you to come in and see us. We will take a look at the alignment of your teeth and jaws and formulate a treatment plan based on your particular needs.
To find out more about braces and what the treatment process involves, please have a look here.
We also offer a comprehensive range of other dental treatments — to find out more about the services that we provide at Somerset Dental Care, please have a look here.
To make an appointment, please get in touch here or give us a call on 02 4648 0909.
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