Are you embarking on your journey to a straighter smile shortly? Maybe you’ve already started your orthodontic treatment and are in the midst of adjusting to life with metal brackets and wires. Either way, life with braces will be a bit easier (and more comfortable!) with the right products. Here are five we recommend!
1. An Interproximal Toothbrush
Interproximal toothbrushes are essential because they can effectively clean between your brackets and wires, ensuring food particles, bacteria, and other debris don’t get trapped. Fortunately, they are quite inexpensive. Plus, they are small enough that you can easily store a few in your purse or the center console of your car, making cleaning your teeth on the go easy.
2. Dental Wax
Soft tissue irritation is to be expected from time to time, particularly toward the beginning of your orthodontic treatment. The easiest way to protect your gums, lips, and cheeks while also alleviating discomfort is by covering the sharp edge of the bracket or wire with dental wax. You only need a small amount too, so a little case of it should last throughout your teeth-straightening journey.
3. Pre-Threaded Floss
Shortly after starting your orthodontic treatment, you’ll notice that food particles easily get trapped between your teeth and around your braces. Instead of reaching for a toothpick, which can push the debris further into position, use pre-threaded floss. Since it’s pre-cut to length and has a tip that’s easy to maneuver, keeping your teeth healthy and your braces clear is a breeze!
4. A Water Bottle
Drinking water throughout the day won’t just keep you hydrated; it will help prevent dry mouth and soft tissue irritation. So, if you don’t have one already, consider buying a large water bottle! That way, drinking the recommended amount each day is excuse-proof.
5. Sugar-Free Mints
To prevent orthodontic emergencies, like broken brackets, patients with traditional braces are asked not to chew gum. But what if you need to freshen your breath after lunch or before an important meeting? That’s where sugar-free mints come in. Not only are they effective, but they won’t expose your mouth to sugar for 15+ minutes, which helps prevent tooth decay.
About the Practice
For our team at Simply Orthodontics, the majority of our days are centered around braces. Of course, that’s not the case for our patients prior to their orthodontic treatment. That’s why we do more than just provide custom care; we act as an on-going resource, sharing recommendations, providing helpful tips, and answering questions along the way. If you are interested in straightening your teeth, then don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at our Hopkinton office via our website or by phone at (508) 435-1200.