4 Things To Know About Caring For Your Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment

A straight smile does a lot for you. It is one of the first things that people notice about you, which means that it can help improve your success at job interviews and on dates. It can also help boost your overall self-confidence since you won't feel self-conscious about crooked teeth and whether or not people are looking at them. However, if you decide to get braces in order to straighten your smile, you must take proper care of your teeth throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment, or it won't do you any good. To ensure that your treatment is a total success, here are four things you need to know:

1. Make Sure You're Brushing Your Teeth Regularly.

When you first get your braces put on, you have to continue brushing your teeth as normal. In fact, you may want to brush your teeth an extra time throughout the day, such as after every meal. You may even want to consider an inter-dental toothbrush, as these are much easier to get under your wires than traditional toothbrushes.

2. Don't Forget to Floss, Too!

You will also want to make sure that you are flossing on a routine basis. Your toothbrush can't get in between your teeth, especially now that you have braces on, but the floss can. You may want to consider investing in a floss threader if you don't have one, as these work wonders safely navigating around your braces.

3. Keep Your Elastics On.

Although not at first, you will eventually be introduced to elastics, or rubber bands, in your orthodontic treatment. When it comes to this point in your treatment, it is imperative that you wear them at all times, except when you are eating or brushing/flossing your teeth. Your orthodontist will give you extras in case they break. These bands can change sizes depending on the point in time that you are at in your treatment, so make sure that you are always wearing the appropriate size when you have to reach for one of your extras.

4. Call Your Orthodontist Immediately When Something Isn't Right.

If at any time you feel that something is wrong, you're experiencing an unusual amount of pain, or your braces have been damaged (such as a loose bracket or broken wire), call your orthodontist as soon as possible. Essentially, the sooner the issue is addressed, the less of a risk of oral health damage and to the overall treatment that's already successfully been completed.

For more information, you will want to content a company such as Rosenzweig Orthodontics.

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