Braces are a great way to straighten your teeth, repairing any large gaps between individual teeth and moving them to an even position within your mouth. It's important that you know how to take care of your braces after they're installed so that you don't accidentally damage them with a simple, normal behavior. You can take good care of your braces by doing the following:

Choose Foods Carefully

It's important to avoid sticky foods that could become attached to your braces, as well as hard foods that could bend the wires. It is easier than you'd think for a small food item such as a popcorn hull or blackberry seed to lodge in your braces and create a major issue. Sticky foods can leave residue behind that is difficult to remove, or that can become attached to your dental work and pull parts loose. Instead, avoid enjoying these foods entirely until your braces are removed. 

Consider an Electric Toothbrush

Brushing your teeth fully is very important whether you have braces or not. However, it becomes even more vital once you've had braces installed. Consider a soft-bristled electric toothbrush so that you can reach all areas of your mouth, gums, and tongue effectively. This will help you eliminate food remnants and bacteria that can cause issues over time. 

Address Problems Immediately

It can be tempting to put off repairing an issue with your braces until later when you have more time to deal with it. Unfortunately, this can lead to even more damage occurring. It's important that you take the time to address any issues that occur — such as bent wires, rough spots or pain — as soon as you can. Contact your orthodontist and let them know that you need an emergency appointment to repair the damage so that you can avoid more problems developing before you see the doctor.

Avoid Chewing Hard Objects

Many individuals have a habit of chewing on pencils, jewelry, or their fingernails. This habit can be quite destructive to dental work, so it's important to avoid it after having braces installed. Otherwise, you risk accidentally doing severe damage to your dental work, your mouth or both.  If you're having issues with your braces and something has become uncomfortable, painful, or is rubbing the soft tissue of your mouth, seek help today. Reach out to a local orthodontist today to find out how they can assist you with these problems or to learn more about braces. 

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