Here at the Southampton Orthodontic Centre, we have been helping patients to achieve their perfect smiles for the past 15 years. We know all there is to know about teeth straightening (orthodontics), and the dental practice is constantly developing as we provide the very latest techniques and options for achieving a straighter smile.
Teeth straightening in adults is a very similar process to that in children or teenagers. There are numerous teeth straightening options available on the market these days for adults. These include the traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, which are designed to blend in with your natural tooth colour and use ultra-small translucent brackets or Incognito Braces, whose clever design means they are fitted to the inside of your teeth, so the braces are not even on show. Whichever braces you may have fitted, there are a few top tips to looking after them during the Christmas season.
Most people realise brushing your teeth morning and night is essential for good dental hygiene, and this is even more important if you have braces fitted.
The mouth contains millions of bacteria, which can cause plaque and tooth decay, bad breath and potential gum disease. If you wear fixed braces, there is a greater chance of getting food debris stuck in the brackets, therefore keeping them clean is very important.
You can buy special toothbrushes for braces, which are a great help. Also, plaque disclosing tablets are useful to be able to see where the plaque is still residing. It is also important to use a fluoride mouthwash and special dental floss, which is designed to clean around your braces. If you can only get the usual floss, then waxed floss is better as it is less likely to get caught around your braces. A good tip is to use waxed floss with a floss threader.
Other tips include:-
- Brushing your teeth after every meal and snack
- Cutting up your food into smaller pieces, making it easier to chew
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid hard, and sticky foods such as toffees as these can damage your braces
- Grate up hard vegetables such as apples and carrots
- Avoid too many sugary drinks
- Avoid popcorn as it can get stuck in your braces
Some research has been done into finding the best toothbrush for braces. If you would like to see the findings of the best electric, battery or manual brush for braces, completed by Electric Teeth, then please click here.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!