Taking Care of Teeth with Braces and Invisalign

Did you know that tomorrow, February 8, is Ice Cream for Breakfast Day? It’s another a reminder of how much we love our sweets. While there’s nothing wrong with an occasional bowl of ice cream or gooey candy bar, when your child or teen is being treated with traditional braces or Invisalign, there are special considerations they need to keep in mind while eating, cleaning and playing. Read on for tips on how to make sure your child will get the best results possible in his or her orthodontic care.

Watch What They Eat

If your child is wearing traditional braces, it’s very important to make sure that they’re avoiding foods and drinks that could damage the brackets or break the wires. Many candies, like caramel, bubble gum, gummy worms and more can get stuck in between brackets, or even pull them loose. Hard and crunchy foods, like chips, nuts and popcorn can also be risky. Fruits and vegetables like corn on the cob, apples and carrots should be cut up, not bitten into. Sugary and carbonated drinks should also be avoided, since they can lead to tooth decay.

Invisalign Teen is less restrictive than traditional braces, since the clear aligners are removed when eating, but this doesn’t mean that your teen shouldn’t be careful about what they eat. If your teen is wearing Invisalign, he or she needs to be especially careful to brush their teeth regularly—which leads us to our next tip.

Brush, Brush, Brush

Whether your child is wearing traditional braces or Invisalign, it is critical that they brush their teeth regularly. Braces wearers should brush their teeth after every meal, and make sure that they brush both between their teeth and between the braces. They should also floss their teeth at least once or twice a day.

Wearers of Invisalign Teen also need to be sure they brush their teeth after each meal. Flossing should also be regular, and the Invisalign aligners also need to be cleaned as well. To clean aligners, brush them with water only. Toothpaste is too abrasive and will scratch and wear down the aligners.

Protect and Play

Children and teens don’t need to give up their active lifestyle when wearing braces. If they play sports, though, it is very important that they wear a mouthguard while doing so. Mouthguards don’t just provide protection from concussions. They also protect children in case they fall, preventing them from breaking their braces or injuring their teeth. Several companies manufacture ready-made mouthguards for braces-wearers, but they can also be custom-made.

No matter how careful you and your child are, accidents can always happen. If they end up breaking a bracket or losing an aligner, don’t worry. Make an appointment with Younis Orthodontics in Martinsburg and we’ll take care of it! Visit our website to learn more.