Our El Mirage Orthodontist Gives Tips on How to Avoid Getting Food in Your Braces

It’s bound to happen. You’re done eating lunch, you go to rinse your mouth out to get food off of your braces…but it’s stuck! Allowing food to sit in or around your brackets can cause damage to your orthodontic appliances and teeth. Thankfully, there are useful tools for tackling stuck-on food. Here are some tips from our El Mirage orthodontist to keep in mind when caring for your braces.

#1: Stay Away from Foods That Get Stuck in Braces

Ideally, you should stay away from all hard and chewy foods throughout orthodontic treatment. Anything that puts pressure on the teeth or foods that may get stuck on your braces should be avoided.

However, it’s understandable that there may be a time you accidentally eat food that’s going to get caught in your braces. Do your best to avoid these foods, or remove the residue from your teeth, and be in contact with your orthodontist should any damage occur.

#2: Use a Proxabrush

A Proxabrush is a small dental brush that allows you to clean between your brackets and the spaces between your teeth. It’s difficult to reach these spots with your toothbrush alone and neglecting the food in these spaces can lead to the buildup of plaque and tooth decay.

Keep a Proxabrush on-hand so you can ensure that all food is removed from your teeth after eating.

#3: Use Threaded Floss & a Water Pick

It’s difficult to floss properly with braces; you can’t get between your teeth the same way as before. Threaded floss is perfect for getting in now hard-to-reach places, like above your wire or under your gums. It’s simply a string of floss with a sturdy end which allows you to thread it into small areas.

A water pick is another helpful dental tool. It shoots a stream of water between your teeth and gums. It’s a convenient way to clear out food and floss quickly!

Contact Our El Mirage Orthodontist today with any questions or to schedule an appointment!

The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to orthodontics, feel free to contact Surprise Orthodontics, with a convenient orthodontist office in El Mirage, AZ, by clicking here or by calling 480.725.8209.