If you are wearing metal braces, you have to be careful with what you eat. This is part of caring for your metal braces. For the first few days you have to eat soft foods. Try to avoid meat, raw vegetables and anything hard to chew. Avoid eating chewy foods like bagels, caramel and gum, crunchy foods like chips and pop corn, hard candies and nuts. Avoid biting into apples, carrots or other fruits. You better have these sliced to bite-sizes before eating them to protect your braces. You may need to get to practice some chewing techniques before you eat the foods you are used to. These kinds of food should be avoided as much as possible to prevent damage to your metal braces.

You may feel some soreness in your mouth and teeth and this can be alleviated by rinsing your mouth with some salt mixed in warm water. You can put wax on your braces to lessen irritation along the teeth. Try to put lip balm on your lips to prevent dryness. Your dentist may also prescribe you with some pain reliever medications if needed.

Flossing is part of caring for your braces. It may be a bit difficult at first but it would be easy if you just have the patience to do it properly. Brush your teeth with a special brush for teeth with metal braces like a proxy brush. This brush has bristles similar to a Christmas tree that can remove food residue in the braces and teeth. Brush carefully around the metal brackets. Brushing of teeth should be done immediately after meals. Try to do a thorough cleaning of your teeth at night because you have more time to do so.

Use a fluoride mouth rinse to help prevent tooth decay. It is always good to practice good oral hygiene. Any food residue left between the braces and the teeth would cause decay and enamel stains. Aside from flossing and brushing you must always rinse your mouth with water to prevent dryness.

Remember that your metal braces are prone to scratching and staining. That is why it is important to strictly follow instructions set by your dentist. Scratching and staining may be made possible by eating foods which get under your braces or around them. These are foods that are harder to brush off and take time to floss out. So, it would be better to avoid all these problems if you stick to soft foods and follow the right diet required for you. Remember to avoid too many sweets and sugary foods as these cause some staining on the metal braces and expose the teeth to possible tooth decay.

Make regular visits to your dentist. There may be some adjustments that may be needed for your metal braces. Remember to discuss any problems that you are experiencing with your braces so that the dentist can do some corrective measures. Just remember to enjoy your braces while you have them. Remember that wearing metal braces is good for about 18 months; it may be longer for some if the dentist recommends it.

Jonathan Pitts

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