Braces provide lots of different, little spaces for food to get trapped, so keeping up with proper brushing and flossing is absolutely essential during your orthodontic treatment. That being said, hard brushing is not the answer, and can harm your gums, teeth, and braces. Choose a toothbrush that’s softer, and remember—proper brushing is better than harder brushing. Gently brushing your teeth as well as doing your best to brush around your braces and all their parts is vital. Remember that while you should be gentle with your toothbrush, your braces will not be gentle on your toothbrush; therefore, it will need to be replaced more often during your orthodontic care.

Flossing with Braces

Flossing at least once a day both during your time with braces and post-braces is ideal. Again, gentle is the name of the game here. Using a floss threader can greatly help you get the floss under the wire that goes through your braces and in between your teeth. The best part is that they can be reused! Flossing helps to remove food that gets trapped in the tight spaces that braces create, therefore keeping your mouth clean and healthy while you have your braces.

Eating Right

Although your diet will likely be able to remain the same while receiving orthodontic care, there are certain foods that are best avoided while you’re getting your teeth straightened out! These include candies like gummy bears and caramels that can get stuck and damage your braces. Very hard foods such as nuts can damage your braces as well. Softer foods will be ideal, especially after an adjustment. Many chewy and processed foods like bagels, lollipops, and hard candies don’t make for good eating while you have braces. If you do eat them, be gentle and chew with care.

Caution with Biting

Chewing or biting on objects is a no-no without braces—so it’s definitely in the forbidden category while you have braces! Objects like pencils and ice can be very damaging to your teeth. Even biting your nails isn’t a healthy practice. You’ll also want to exercise caution with foods like apples that require you to bite into them. Until you become used to your braces, cut up your fruit and be cautious about biting into food such as chicken wings!

Having braces is an important step in having healthy teeth with a proper bite. Caring for your braces isn’t difficult, but you should be gentle with your mouth while eating, brushing, and flossing. And remember that chewing on objects is never good for your teeth. With proper care, your braces can do their job and give you a beautiful smile!

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Chronic Pain or Jaw Issues

Usually any jaw issues people have relate to the structure of the jaw. This means the problem isn’t anything you did or didn’t do—it’s just the way your unique facial structure is. However, many people suffer from jaw problems such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), which can cause chronic pain in your jaw as well as the joints that hold your jaw in place.

As a result of a misaligned jaw, your teeth may experience uneven wear. You may not even be able to close your mouth properly. These issues are cumbersome and warrant a visit to your dentist to discuss if oral surgery is right for you. Although oral surgery is a process that will likely involve orthodontic care before or after the surgery, it can correct your jaw and help you to remain pain-free and healthy for life.

Trouble Chewing, Breathing, and Swallowing

People who suffer from TMJ and other jaw alignment issues may also experience trouble chewing and swallowing, possibly even talking or breathing. These problems can hinder your daily living and even pose medical risks. This is when the misalignment of your jaw should be evaluated by an oral surgeon to see if orthognathic surgery is right for you. Your oral surgeon can reposition the bones and correct these problems along with orthodontic care to ensure your jaw and mouth don’t give you any more problems. If you experience pain while chewing, difficulty breathing, and trouble swallowing as a result of misalignment of your teeth or jaw, your dentist can help you determine if oral surgery would help. Your symptoms may also accompany an uneven facial appearance due to your jaw structure.

Imbalanced Facial Structure

Orthognathic surgery is normally not for purely atheistic reasons, although people who experience an imbalanced facial structure often have other misalignment issues that go along with a protruding or receding jaw. People who cannot properly close their mouth may have trouble not breathing through their mouth, which can create loud breathing and even dry mouth. Oral surgery can improve your appearance dramatically, but remember that this procedure is designed to correct the symptoms of your jaw or teeth misalignment. The improvement of your appearance will be a welcome result of the surgery along with the alleviation of your symptoms.

Talk with your dentist if oral surgery could be an option for you if you suffer from TMJ, chronic jaw pain, have problems chewing and speaking, or have an uneven facial appearance. Orthognathic surgery could help alleviate your symptoms and correct your jaw, therefore bringing you a safer and stunning smile for life!

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