Braces are a crucial proposition. Not only are they very important for your child’s oral wellbeing but are very expensive too. Thus, it is very important to ensure that your kids know exactly how to care for them.
Why is good oral hygiene with braces so important? Food and plaque can get trapped in the tiny spaces between braces and wires, causing decay and enamel stains. Food can also react with the bacteria in your mouth and the metal in the braces to produce a bleaching effect, which can cause small, permanent light spots on the teeth. Cleaning between the braces is difficult yet very important.

Brushing With Braces Since the metallic wires and brackets fixed in your braces can be fragile, it is best to use a toothbrush with soft bristles to brush your child’s teeth. Make sure your child only uses India’s best toothpaste - Babool, to clean his teeth. During brushing, it is important that your child brushes using small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under his gum line. It is important to brush very gently and carefully, covering all areas between the teeth, between braces and the surface of each tooth. Brushing with braces may take more time than usual but is worth the effort. It is important to brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth, the outside, inside and chewing surface of your front and back teeth. Your child must finish off with brushing his tongue and the roof of his mouth. Four is the minimum number of times a child with braces must brush during a day. This is to avoid any decay due to stuck particles of food in the braces and between teeth. You must ensure that your kid replaces his toothbrush more often than usual as brushing with braces can wear off the brush sooner. Special orthodontic toothbrushes are available in the market. These brushes have a slit in between to accommodate the width of the wires and brackets. It is advisable to get your child to use this specialised brush for oral hygiene maintenance purposes.

Flossing With Braces For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when your kid is wearing braces, but it is important to floss teeth every day. This will make sure no debris is stuck in between the teeth.

Foods To Avoid With Braces Food that can damage the braces such as hard and sticky foods must be avoided at any cost. One must also avoid eating sugary foods because they cause tooth decay. Nail biting and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided as well.Here is a list of food stuff to be avoided if your kids are wearing braces:

• Gum
• Toffee
• Caramels
• Ice
• Nuts
• Apples and carrots
• Chips
• Pizza crust
• Cake
• Ice Cream
• Cookies
• Candy
• Soda
• Sweetened tea
• Drinks with sugar

Your child’s Orthodontist will give you definite instructions about what to do and what not to do if your child has braces. Make sure you follow his instructions and advise completely for the sake of your child’s complete oral care.

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