🦷 How to Avoid Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

Let’s Be Real—Braces Aren’t Just for Aesthetic Goals 😬

Braces are no longer just about having the prettiest teeth. In a majority of cases, they are responsible for fixing upper and lower jaw misalignment, along with oral problems and the rebuilding of self-esteem. Braces, no doubt, will make a big difference in your smile, be it worn during teenage years or after adulthood. 🦷✨

It turns out, braces can cause problems with the cleanliness of teeth. Brackets and wires make it difficult to do regular cleaning, thus plaque and food debris that accumulate in the crevices formed by brackets and wires could cause tooth decay even if the person is brushing and flossing regularly.

But that’s not the whole story—caries in braces are fully preventable! You will be able to protect your teeth and maintain your healthy smile during your orthodontic treatmentif you use the proper techniques and put in some extra effort.

Let’s find out the ways on how to prevent tooth decay in the case of braces and handy tips from Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul to make the journey of your treatment smoother and more comfortable. 🦷💙

🦷 Why Are Braces More Likely to Cause Tooth Decay?

Mechanically, braces steer teeth through a process where pressure is put on certain teeth, and the teeth are moved little by little to the desired position. Although it helps achieve prefect teeth alignment, at the same time, it can make some parts of the mouth hidden where food, plaque, and bacteria easily get hold.

Some of the main facts explaining the relation between braces and cavities are:

• Brackets and wires are aspects of dental braces which make it harder to reach out for all parts of the teeth.
• The situation of the food particles that are trapped in the space between the brackets as well as wires and consequently result in the accumulation of plaque.
• Plaque changes into acid that destroys tooth enamel which leads to the development of tooth decay.

To maintain a cavity-free smile, you need to double up on your oral care routine when you have braces. 😎

🦷 How to Prevent Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

Great news: By sticking to the right habits, you can completely prevent tooth decay and keep your teeth gleaming throughout the orthodontic treatment. below we mentioned some of the ways you can protect your teeth while wearing braces:

1. 🪥 Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal

If you brush your teeth after every meal, not only will you remove the food particles, but you will also be able to remove the plaque that has been trapped in your braces. This is very important because the food that is stuck in your brackets can very quickly become plaque which can leadf to cavities and gum disease.

How to Brush With Braces:

• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush so that your gums will not be injured.
• To clean both your teeth and braces, brush the parts where the gums and teeth come together with the angled brush.
• Brush at least 2 minutes should be brushed—don’t hurry!
• Also, make sure you are brushing the top, bottom, and back of the brackets. ✨

Lema Tip: One of the reasons why electric toothbrushes are usually recommended is that they give a very steady brushing with a very gentle pressure.

2. 🧵 Floss Every Day

Braces make flossing hard but it is the only way to remove all the plaque and leftover food particles that are stuck between your teeth and underneath the wires. Not flossing can cause plaque to take hold in the spaces between the teeth and the brackets, and that can then lead to cavities.

How to Floss with Braces:

• Employ floss threaders or floss picks to navigate the floss under the wires.
• Be careful and gentle as you floss between the teeth and around the brackets.
• Absolutely do floss every day without skipping any single day—before bed in particular, as this will prevent plaque buildup overnight.
• Besides coming in smaller chunks these gummy bears have the habit of sticking to your braces, making them caramel-like in that aspect and gummies, might perfect for you while you are on braces as well. 🍬
• And hard stuff, food like ice, nuts, or popcorn, that if it goes between your brackets and teeth, can damage your braces without you knowing. 🧊
• Sugary drinks that contain soda and that are artificially sweetened like energy and juice drinks are an excellent platform for both the bacteria and the production of plaque.
• To the already mentioned healthy diet consisting of fruits and veggies, we can add apples, carrots, and celery, as the natural cleaners of our teeth. 🥕🍎

Lema Tip: After you eat sugary or acidic foods, drink water. This will help water the acids and sugars that have stuck to your teeth and that they won’t damage your teeth.

5. 🦷 Visit Your Dentist Regularly

It is still important to see your dentist, even if you are brushing and flossing regularly, you have to go every 6 months. When you go to the dentist, he or she will:

• Do a professional cleaning of your teeth to take out both plaque and tartar.
• Look for cavities or signs of gum disease.
• Check the progress of your braces and if necessary, do the adjustments.

At Lema Dental Clinic, our team of experts will provide you with personalized advice on how to maintain your dental health while wearing braces. 🏥

6. 🧴 Use Orthodontic Wax if Needed

If your braces are irritating the inside of your mouth or causing discomfort, you should use orthodontic wax to temporarily cover the brackets and wires. This will stop the rubbing and it will be easier for you to eat and to speak comfortably.

🏥 Why Choose Lema Dental Clinic for Your Braces?

At Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul, we provide expert orthodontic care to ensure your teeth stay healthy throughout your braces journey. Here’s why Lema is the best place for your treatment:

• 🧑‍⚕️ Professional staff who have the necessary training and experience in braces and aligners.
• 🦷 Treatment plan that is designed just for you to help with your special dental needs.
• 🌍 Language-friendly treatment for foreigners who thus can feel comfortable and have no trouble understanding the matter.
• 💎 Use of technologically advanced apparatus for the exactness of the therapy and for the attainment of results faster.
• 💸 Reasonably priced services in comparison with other clinics based abroad.

Regardless of whether you are using traditional metal braces or clear aligners, Lema Dental Clinic will be with you to have a healthy smile while your teeth are being straightened.

💡 Final Thoughts: Protect Your Smile While Wearing Braces

Braces are a fantastic instrument for a straight, beautiful smile, however, they still have to be taken care of properly to avoid tooth decay. Through correct brushing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist, your teeth can remain clean, healthy and free of decay even when you wear braces.

If you really want to improve your smile, Lema Dental Clinic is the one who will accompany you all the way there. Make your appointment for the consultation today and start your journey to a lighter, straighter and healthier smile. 🌟