Over the course of multiple, timely adjustment sessions, the braces installed in your son or daughter’s mouth will realign their teeth for a more appealing smile and more functional mouth. If your son or daughter develops cavities, or if their braces are damaged in some way, it will likely increase the amount of time they need to wear the appliance.
Encouraging your child to keep up on oral hygiene and make some minor lifestyle changes will maximize the effectiveness of the braces and keep the treatment time to a bare minimum.
Keeping their braces clean and their teeth healthy starts by brushing their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste. This should be immediately followed by flossing between their teeth and around the gumline. To make these tasks easier, you might want to provide them with interdental brushes or a floss threader with wax-coated floss to effectively the clean hard-to-reach places of the mouth.
Eating sticky foods and chewing gum can often bend wires, loosen brackets or pull a spacer out of its intended position. At the same time, chewing hard foods can also cause similar damage along with chewing on hard objects, pencils, pens and ice.
Dr. John Fleming provided your child with a piece of special orthodontic wax when he installed your child’s braces. If something is damaged and a sharp point is threatening to injure your child’s cheek and gums, your child can maximize comfort by using the wax.
If you have questions about how to clean or take care of your son or daughter’s braces in Alpharetta, Georgia, or if something is damaged or loosened on the appliance, you should call your orthodontist at 770-901-2433 to schedule an appointment. Our Quality Orthodontic Care team is happy to help you.