Even though your braces are strong (strong enough to move your teeth, in fact) there are still habits that can damage your appliance and even delay your treatment time. This is why it’s important to take good care of your braces on a regular basis. Some of the habits Dr. David Li and our orthodontic team recommend that you avoid include:
–Forgetting to brush, floss, and rinse: It’s extremely important to deeply clean your smile each and every day when you have braces. This is because it’s best to avoid dental issues, like tooth decay as well as tooth discoloration. These issues can, unfortunately, delay your treatment time. So, please remember to brush twice a day and floss and rinse daily.
–Eating appliance-harming foods: Unfortunately, eating appliance-harming foods, like sticky, hard and chewy foods and treats, can break your appliance and make it harder to achieve the smile you’re looking for. So, please do your best to avoid eating foods and treats that can harm or alter your appliance, like caramel, taffy, apples, and popcorn.
–Not wearing a mouthguard: Refusing to wear a mouthguard while you participate in high-contact sports and activities can put your smile and appliance in grave danger. This is because hard, forceful objects tend to hit your mouth and break your braces and even your teeth. So, please wear a mouthguard whenever you are active.
If you avoid these bad habits, your braces have a high chance of remaining in tip-top shape. If you have any questions or if you would like to know more about how to take care of your braces in San Diego, California, please remember that you can always call San Diego Orthodontic Specialists at 858-487-8900 and talk to a member of our team. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you!