Many Americans, both young and old, are wearing braces.  In fact, if you aren’t sporting some orthodontic hardware yourself, you can probably think of someone in your circle who is.

Braces, whether they are metal or ceramic, are designed to align and straighten teeth.  However, in order for your orthodontic process to work properly, there is work that must be done by the person receiving orthodontic care.

Here are some tips on how to properly take care of your teeth while wearing braces.

• Permanent damage to tooth enamel can occur if you do not keep your brackets clean.  Make sure to use an interproximal brush in order to get into those nooks and crannies.  You can purchase them at your local drugstore.
• Some foods can break, bend, or loosen the wires of your braces.  Make sure to avoid them!  These foods include hard foods like apples and carrots, and soft chewy foods like caramel and toffee.  If you do choose to eat hard foods, make sure they are cut up into small manageable pieces!
• Use a soft bristle toothbrush, and brush every tooth for about 10 seconds to make sure that you brush every bracket. Make sure to brush the front and back of each tooth!
• When you are finished brushing, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and mouthwash to ensure that there is no toothpaste residue and food left in your brackets.

With these tips, your smile should be in tip top shape, and your orthodontic experience will run smoothly.