If you wear braces or Invisalign, you have a few more options available to you when it comes to making resolutions in the New Year. Remember that your oral health is connected to your overall health and wellness, so give your smile and attention it needs to shine bright this year, get you through your orthodontic treatment, and help you reach your goals.
Brush and floss thoroughly
It’s important to brush and floss thoroughly every day no matter who you are, but especially if you’re a braces-wearer. Braces work and move better when your mouth is healthy and clean. Proper brushing and flossing also helps prevent white spots on teeth.
Plus, the last thing you want is to develop cavities while you’re wearing braces and have your treatment interrupted because you need a filling or other dental work. Brackets and wires naturally trap food and plaque, so using an orthodontic flosser and other tools recommended by your orthodontist are a must to get into all the tight spaces.
Wear your retainer
Are you coming up on the end of your braces treatment? If so, it’s almost time to be fitted for a retainer. Whether you’ve worn Invisalign for six months or braces for two years, you need a retainer to keep your newly shifted teeth in alignment. Wear your retainer exactly as your Woodinville orthodontist instructs to ensure that all your hard work is not lost.
Watch what you eat
When you have brackets and wires on your teeth, you will have food limitations. Gum is off-limits, as are chewy candies that could pull off a bracket and hard foods that could snap a wire. It’s hard to imagine going through a year or two of food restrictions – especially for teens – but making the resolution to be mindful of your foods will only improve your orthodontic progress.
Wearers of Invisalign or Invisalign Teen do not have any off-limits foods. You can eat whatever you like – but only if you remove the aligners for every meal, snack, and beverage (besides water). But you must clean your teeth and trays carefully before joining them back together again to avoid the development of decay.
See your dentist
Your orthodontist focuses on aligning your teeth. Your dentist focuses on the overall health of your teeth – and they perform teeth cleanings and checkups. Continue to honor your dental appointments every six months along with your orthodontic appointments so you can have your teeth professionally cleaned (those hygienists know exactly how to get in and around the hardware) and ensure that there isn’t anything lurking within your mouth that needs attention.
Invest in braces
If you don’t already have braces, make getting them your New Year’s resolution. Resolve to get a healthier, straighter smile that is beautiful, healthy, and strong. Aligned teeth are easier to clean and they can minimize and even eliminate oral health problems like teeth grinding, gum recession, cracked teeth, and more.
Contact Soleil Orthodontics to schedule a consultation and learn more about the braces that are right for you.