Braces are orthodontic devices to help you improve the look and feel of your smile by aligning misaligned teeth, or correcting bite issues (the correction of maloccluded (crooked) teeth or a bad “bite”).

Retainers are pieces of plastic or metal that are custom-made for each person for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, they are needed after braces come off so that the bone that holds the teeth can rebuild after the teeth have moved. Further, retainers help to maintain the new positions of teeth after active orthodontic treatment has been completed.

What to do when wearing braces

When wearing braces or retainers, there are a number of things that ought to be observed. These include:

1. Always remember to brush your teeth after every meal and floss at least once daily.
2. Make sure you use toothpaste that contains fluoride. You can ask your dentist if you need a fluoride rinse. This will help prevent cavities!
3. If you take out your retainer to eat, make sure you brush your teeth, floss, and remember to keep your retainer safe in its container so that it does not get misplaced or broken.
4. Keep your retainer clean, too, by brushing it gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste. You may also soak it in denture cleaner as instructed by your dentist. Do not put your retainer in boiling water or in the dishwasher.
5. During your treatment, try to avoid foods with a lot of sugar which increase the number of bacteria that grows in your mouth, and can cause more plaque and become a doorway to cavities.
6. Avoid sticky and chewy foods (caramel, chewing gum, gummy bears), hard foods (hard candy, nuts, ice cubes), or any foods that could possibly get stuck in your braces (corn on the cob, bagels, ribs, taffy, etc.).
7. Be sure to schedule your routine checkups with your dentist. It is recommended that you continue to visit the dentist every six months.

At Parkview Dental, we love to serve great smiles. Contact us for top-notch orthodontic treatment and other dental healthcare services.