During the festive period and celebrations a lot of people with braces probably have forgotten to take care of their braces! So let’s take a look at how to care for your braces properly.

Foods to Avoid

1.  Food that is hard to remove from teeth should be avoided. If the food gets trapped in braces it’s even more difficult to remove.

2.  Overly hard foods such as nuts and meat containing bones should be avoided as it can damage the braces.

3.  Food that requires you to bite into such as apples, corn on the cob and carrots are also a culprit it can also damage the braces.

Oral Hygiene

Extra care with oral hygiene when wearing braces is a must and should never be neglected.

1.  You should always have a toothbrush with you so you can brush after each meal to prevent food being trapped in your braces.

2.  If oral hygiene habits are not adopted cavities will become a problem. Therefore, flossing is also needed.

3.  It’s also recommended that you use a soft bristled toothbrush which can remove food particles more effectively.

What to do if a Bracket or Wire Breaks

Braces, bands or wires sometimes break or fall off. Usually this is caused by chewing hard or sticky foods. More often, one of the parts will come loose. This can cause some discomfort. It’s important to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible for an appointment to get the braces fixed.