Paradise Valley AZ Orthodontist Offers Tips for Keeping Teeth Healthy While in Braces

The month of October is National Orthodontic Health Month and is dedicated to promoting the awareness of orthodontic care and its impact on everyday life. Having healthy, straight teeth not only helps prevent decay and periodontal disease, but also provides a more aesthetically-pleasing smile to increase your self-confidence. Our Paradise Valley AZ orthodontist wants to share a few tips on the importance of orthodontic care and keeping your teeth healthy while in braces.

Maintain Healthy & Strong Teeth with Help from Our Paradise Valley AZ Orthodontist

Tip #1 – Brush & Floss Your Teeth Daily

Most of us know brushing and flossing daily is essential to our oral health, but it’s even more important when you have braces. Certain foods can get stuck in hard-to-see places and remain there, promoting the growth of harmful bacteria. Our Paradise Valley AZ orthodontist recommends gently brushing after every meal and flossing at least twice daily. To ensure you’re getting a better clean, remove any bands prior to brushing and consider upgrading to a plaque-fighting electric toothbrush.

Tip #2 – Watch What You Eat

Another way to maintain healthy teeth while wearing braces is to watch what you eat. Certain foods, like anything hard, crunchy, or chewy, can damage your braces and should be avoided.

Don’t Eat:

• Chewing gum
• Ice
• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Soda

Also, sugary foods and those that are highly acidic should not be a part of your diet. These foods can eat away at the enamel on your teeth and cause decay. Instead, our Paradise Valley orthodontist recommends sticking with foods that are soft and easy to clean up after.

Do Eat:

• Pasta
• Eggs
• Bananas
• Water
• Milk

Tip #3 – Keep Your Orthodontic Appointments

A final tip to help you maintain healthy teeth is to always keep your orthodontic treatment appointments. Each trip to your Paradise Valley AZ orthodontist is scheduled for your specific needs, and staying on track is vital to your overall results. A missed appointment can delay your treatment weeks or even months and damage any progress that’s been made up to that point. If you must miss an appointment, make sure to reschedule as soon as possible.

Our Paradise Valley AZ Orthodontist is Here for You!

These are just a few of the ways you can enjoy happy, healthy teeth while in braces. There are additional steps you can take to keep your orthodontic treatment progress on track, and our Paradise Valley AZ orthodontist is more than happy to help you!

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 orthodontic office near Paradise Valley AZ, by clicking here or by calling 480.719.6320.