Taking Care of Your Braces and Teeth

TAKING CARE OF YOUR BRACES AND TEETH BRACES AND ORAL HEALTH Your usual oral care regimen may not be enough when you have braces: Brackets and wires make flossing tough It's difficult to reach the entire tooth surface with a normal brush Food stuck in brackets and wires Cavities and tooth stains can increase tooth decay risk are more likely DENTAL CARE WITH BRACES Overcome dental hygiene challenges with these tips: Angle brush over and under bracket Use a proxabrush to get under wires Use a floss threader to get between teeth and scrub gently FOODS TO EAT OR AVOID Some foods support your oral health while others pose a risk to brackets and wires: O EAT Whole grain bread Dairy products Diced apples Berries Fish ® AVOID Whole apples Hard candy Sunflower seeds Bagels Meat on the bone Popcorn Ice Sources: Infographic Provided By: dentistry.about.com/od/orthodontics/tp/eatingwithbraces.htm www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/care-of-braces-retainers www.livestrong.com/article/18317-use-floss-threaders/ www.mayoclinic.com/health/braces/MY01344/DSECTION=risks REEKWOOD rthodonties www.bestkansascityortho.com