Tips and Tricks for Caring for Metal Braces
Posted on March 16, 2022
Braces don’t need much extra effort, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your braces stay in good shape and that you are comfortable. According to Humana, the average American spends around $5,000 on braces, assuming they don’t have dental insurance. Let’s examine tips and tricks for caring for metal braces and ultimately lowering costs.
Use The Right Equipment
Plaque can adhere to gums and braces, and if you don’t remove plaque, it can harden into tartar. Some common toothpaste includes severe abrasive chemicals that might damage metal braces, so make sure you are buying the right kind. You’ll also need floss to clean between your teeth and along the wire. Also, avoid mouthwash with red or green colors. These colors may stain metal braces.
Oral Irrigation
This is a little appliance that sits on your bathroom shelf and removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth and metal braces. As the tool’s wand ejects water from its tank with moderate pressure, it effortlessly removes plaque, bacteria, and food particles lodged between your teeth and your braces, making oral hygiene a breeze!
Eat the Right Food
When it comes to saving on braces cost by looking after them, eating habits are an important factor to consider. With metal braces, your alveolar bones, gums, and teeth require a lot of nutrition. There are certain foods that must be ingested to properly nourish your teeth, gums, and bones. The following foods must be consumed to maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay, bad breath, cavities, and gum disease:
- Meat
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Grains
- Dairy
- Bread
What to Avoid
Taking care of metal braces requires a lot of attention. Nuts, gum, popcorn, sticky candies, corn chips, tough meat, raw vegetables, etc. must be avoided. Aside from that, cleaning and flossing with braces require extra care. One of the most fundamental rules is not to open seals or bottle lids with your teeth or play other mouth sports.
Braces cost a lot, so you want to take care of them. Do so by using the right equipment, irrigating, and knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid. Contact Today’s Orthodontics for help with caring for your metal braces today.