At Allen Park Dental Care, we know how annoying dental care can be when you’re obstructed by metal braces. As hard as it is, we recommend that all our patients abstain from hard or sticky foods while they have braces.
Some of the following ‘no-no’s’ are obvious. But it’s good to review them frequently.
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Ice
- Corn chips
- Hard taco shells
- Sticky or hard candy
- Gum
If you chew on these unsafe items too often, you could damage a bracket extremely easily. If a bracket – or brace – comes off, it means that the tooth is no longer being moved into place. That defeats the purpose of having braces.
You may notice your teeth and mouth are sore upon first getting braces. We promise that won’t last forever. This can help: put one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish it around in your mouth for about thirty seconds. Spit it out when you are finished.
What if a Wire Comes Loose?
If your wires or brackets become loose, use the end of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil. Carefully push the bracket or wire back where it goes. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips and cheeks, you can place a cotton ball between it and the affected area. Damaged appliances can extend the treatment process. Take good care of them!
Don’t Slack Off on Oral Hygiene!
Brush at least twice daily, if not after every meal. Remember to floss as well. Nobody with braces likes to floss, but if you want white cavity-free teeth, brushing and flossing daily will help. Plus, no one wants stinky breath!
If you are considering traditional braces for yourself or your loved ones, you don’t have to deal with the difficult maintenance process of metal appliances. At Allen Park Dental Care, we offer cosmetic dentistry options like clear braces and porcelain veneers. These can help realign your smile at your own pace, without the need for invasive, permanent braces. Satisfied patients from Dearborn, Taylor, and Southgate also visit us for family dentistry. Contact us today to find out more!
Contact Szalai & Szalai DDS – Allen Park Dental Care:
313-928-2323
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
5329 Allen Rd
Allen Park, Michigan
48101