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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What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

First, it’s important to know the factors that influence sensitive teeth. When your enamel wears away, it exposes dentin, a tissue beneath the enamel that protects the roots. It’s not as hard as enamel, but not as soft and exposed as your roots. However, the exposure of dentin can lead to tooth sensitivity. The more worn away your enamel is, the more extreme your tooth pain will be.

The enamel on your teeth can wear away due to brushing too hard (which is actually very damaging to your teeth) or eating too many foods that are acidic or drinking sugary and corrosive drinks (such as alcohol and soda). It could also be influenced by other factors, such as using at-home teeth bleaching kits too often, which strips the enamel away, or tooth decay.

What Your Dentist Can Do

Pain is among one of the many ways that your body communicates. Your extremely sensitive teeth are telling you that something is amiss with your pearly whites. Your dentist can thoroughly examine your teeth and identify any problems. Sometimes, if tooth decay or gum disease has progressed, it can cause your gums to recede or your enamel to wear away due to decay, therefore exposing your dentin and possibly even your tooth’s root. Your dentist can treat the problem, which will be unique to your particular diagnosis. You could need a root canal, a missing filling replaced, or need x-rays to further determine the problem.

What You Can Do

Prevention is the best treatment for extreme tooth sensitivity, so it’s important to remember that once you’ve lost your enamel, it cannot be replaced. Limit sugary drinks like sodas juices and corrosive drinks like alcohol, especially if you already have sensitive teeth, as these can make the pain worse. Don’t brush too hard, and remember, it’s always safest to get teeth whitening done professionally by your dentist.

If you already have extremely sensitive teeth, there are a few things you can do at home to help. You may consider trying toothpaste that’s marketed for sensitive teeth. This toothpaste contains agents like potassium nitrate that are safe for your teeth sensitivity and can help relieve pain. It’s also good to avoid teeth grinding, as this can cause—and worsen—sensitivity. Talk with your dentist if you think you’re a grinder!

Extreme tooth sensitivity can be a burden. Hot and cold foods are forbidden, and oftentimes even things like cold air can make your teeth hurt. There is relief from your pain! Begin by visiting your dentist to uncover the problem, and then follow through with your care at home. Extreme tooth sensitivity doesn’t have to be for life!

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