Some are gifted with perfect teeth alignment, while others are not. However, that doesn’t mean they cannot achieve a beautiful bright smile. Braces are here to help with that, and they are beneficial when applied young. Therefore you may be planning to get braces for your child, but how can you get the most out of this decision? Following braces care routine keeps your child’s mouth healthy and increases the brace’s effectiveness.
The Problem With Braces:
Our teeth have several crevices, nooks, and corners where food debris can hide. However, braces take this game of hide and seek up a notch. Brackets and wires in the braces provide a whole new terrain for sneaky food debris. This setup will not only offer more locations, but it’s hard to work your way around them and flush out the debris. As a result, without proper oral care routine pop, your child can develop cavities, gum diseases, and appalling stains on their pearly whites.
Braces Care Routine – Oral Hygiene:
Brushing: We can’t take brushing out of the equation. The pillar of oral hygiene that your kid needs to lean on more when they have braces. Start with a soft-bristled brush, one that your orthodontist recommends.
Instruct your child to brush in a circular pattern, and cover every area, especially between the wires of the braces. It’s best to work around with the toothbrush for a minimum of 2 minutes. Moreover, try following the rule of 2 by 2, brushing for two minutes twice a day. However, it’s better if your kid can brush after every meal, but brushing twice a day will suffice.
Flossing And Mouthwash: Following up with flossing is a great way to ensure that there are no stuck tidbits left behind. Wrap everything up by advising your child to use mouthwash, so they can clean every part of the mouth where the brush and floss couldn’t reach.
Follow Your Dentist’s advice: After getting braces, a team of your orthodontist will guide you and your child about everything you need to know to keep your kid’s mouth healthy.
Braces Care Routine – The diet
Anything your child eats will significantly affect the braces. Hence, you would need to make smart dietary choices for them. Generally, soft foods are preferred during the treatment period.
These foods include:
Cooked vegetables
Soft bread
Yogurt and milk
Soft fruits
Lean meats
Tofu
On the other hand, you may need to eliminate some foods from the diet even though they may be your child’s favorite. Sticky foods such as candy can stick between the bracket, wires, and teeth, risking more cavities. Moreover, Hard foods like nuts can damage the brackets and wires. Therefore, it’s a good idea to steer clear of these foods:
Popcorn
Hard or extremely crusty bread
andy
Crunchy chips
Hard fruits
Whole nuts or seeds
Meat from a bone
Want to seek help from a professional dentist who will aid you at every step? Visit Porter Smiles. You can call us at 281 519 7200 to learn more about how we can help.