Getting braces is a major investment in your smile. To ensure you’ll have beautiful pearly whites once they come off, you have to take special care of your teeth over the course of treatment. Since brackets and wires can make it challenging to keep plaque and tartar at bay, here are a few tips for preventing cavities and other dental issues after getting braces.

3 Dental Care Tips for Those With Braces

1. Floss Under the Wires

Flossing with braces takes some getting used to, but if you’ve got the right tools, it won’t be any harder than flossing without braces. Regardless of how thoroughly you brush every day, flossing is essential for cavity prevention because bristles simply can’t dislodge plaque that has accumulated between the teeth. Thankfully, there are special tools that make it easy to thread the floss under each wire. Water picks are also a viable option for those with braces. 

2. Follow Your Orthodontist’s Instructions 

After putting on your braces, your orthodontist should have given you a list of foods to avoid. This list probably includes hard foods, like chips and popcorn, and chewy items, like gum and candy. Hard foods can dislodge brackets and wires, damaging the teeth in the process. Chewy foods, on the other hand, can get stuck on the braces, forming the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and making cavities all but inevitable. 

3. Protect Your Smile 

Because teeth with braces are harder to clean, they’re more vulnerable to decay. Once enamel starts to erode, it can threaten a tooth’s structural integrity, making it more susceptible to chips, cracks, and fractures. Therefore, it’s essential for those with braces to protect their teeth when playing sports. Athletes who have braces should wear custom mouthguards, even if they're not necessarily required. 

To ensure your braces will yield a healthy, luminous smile, it’s essential to schedule teeth cleanings around your orthodontist appointments. If you’re looking for a family dentist who’s happy to care for patients with braces, turn to Dental Clinic of Onalaska. At their offices in Onalaska and Trempealeau, WI, they provide comprehensive oral health care for patients of all ages. From cavity prevention to root canal treatment, they do it all. To browse their complete list of services, visit their website. To schedule an appointment, call (608) 783-3341.