The new year has arrived, making it necessary to create new resolutions and goals to ensure you can work on your self-improvement in 2021. Although it’s important to work on your character and habits, it’s equally important to give enough attention to your oral health and avoid common issues. You can work on improving the quality of your teeth while wearing braces and following a few guidelines to protect your teeth with your daily activities and lifestyle. Here are a few useful tips to follow to ensure you can improve the quality of your teeth and gums in the new year as you continue to wear braces.
Listen to Your Orthodontist
It’s important to take your orthodontist seriously when the professional provides you with instructions on how to care for your oral health, whether it means using rubber brands, keeping Invisalign retainers in, or wearing your headgear on each night. Avoid skipping days that you wear the gear and listen to your orthodontist in regard to when and where you need to wear the gear to ensure you can achieve better results. The professional knows what actions need to take place to ensure you stay on track with the progress you make under their supervision.
Brush and Floss Twice Each Day
Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice each day is necessary to avoid plaque and food particles that can get trapped in your braces or Invisalign. The brackets are a commonplace where food is trapped, which can lead to gum disease and decay over time. You can protect your teeth by staying proactive about brushing and flossing after your meals. Using mouthwash can also dislodge the food and kill bacteria and germs that are present in the mouth.
Keep Your Mouthguard in
Dental professionals recommend wearing mouthguard if you participate in different types of contact sports or are enrolled in gym class at school. The gear is effective in protecting your teeth and reducing the risk of injuries that occur as you participate in physical activity and have close contact with other players. Our office can even make a customized mouthguard for a proper fit to ensure it feels comfortable and stays in place throughout practice or a game you play. The mouthguard can even feature your team’s color shades to ensure it pairs well with your uniform and is harder to lose.
Cut Out Sticky or Chewy Foods From Your Diet
When you have braces on your teeth, certain types of food can cause damage and make them fall out due to the texture. Chewy candy, caramel, nuts, and popcorn can cause the braces to fall off of the teeth and can lead to delays with the progress you make while straightening your teeth. Keep in mind that you can return to eating sticky and hard foods after you get your braces off and that it’s not a permanent diet to follow. Understanding it’s a temporary rule can make it easier to stick to the orthodontist’s guidelines and get your braces off sooner rather than later.
Creating a few resolutions related to your braces and smile in 2021 can allow you to look forward to showing off your teeth and avoiding issues that can occur with the right habits formed. Our experienced team at Texas Orthodontic Specialists is here to assist you and can help monitor the progress you make while improving the look of your teeth. Feel free to contact us at your convenience to schedule a free consultation at our office. We look forward to seeing you smile and watching the progress you make in the new year!
– The Texas Orthodontic Specialists Team