Having braces isn’t always fun, especially when it comes to food intake. Most orthodontists tell their patients to avoid sticky snacks or hard candy because these food items can damage brackets and wires. Although there are some limitations on your diet, you still have lots of choices for healthy eating during orthodontic treatment.
Fruits and vegetables are alright. An important part of eating right, most people several servings of both categories each day. Hard fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, and broccoli, can be tough to bite into, so cutting these foods into bite-size pieces so that back teeth can chew them will prevent any issues. Choosing soft options, like bananas or cooked squash, is another good option.
Go with whole grains. Since most grain products are soft, having braces shouldn’t impact your ability to eat regular breads or cereals. You may want to avoid unground whole grains because the seeds can get stuck in between your brackets.
Get your dairy on. Calcium helps keep your teeth strong, and dairy products are a great source of this mineral. Low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese are soft on your braces too.
Eat more chicken (or beef too). Certain cuts of meat can be tough and difficult to chew when you wear braces. Don’t eat meat straight off the bone, and select lean cuts of fish, beef, and chicken for easier chewing.
Sweet treats you can still enjoy. Although taffy, lifesavers, and gummy bears are temporarily off the menu, feel free to indulge in chocolate or a bowl of ice cream every once in a while.
It’s time to schedule a visit to our Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic office – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS.
Most people desire a perfect smile because it makes them look and feel better about themselves. Certainly, boosting your confidence and outward appearance are perks of having straight teeth, but there are other reasons to consider orthodontic treatment. Properly aligned teeth can positively impact your oral health as well as create whole-mouth harmony.
Although straight teeth do look fantastic, they also promote optimal oral health. Crooked teeth are actually harder to keep clean, which can lead to problems such as gum disease or tooth decay. Less plaque and tartar build up when you have straight teeth, so patients can actually get between the teeth to take care of them. Correcting issues of crowding makes brushing and flossing easier, so you can enjoy a truly healthy smile.
Other side effects of untreated orthodontic issues can include abnormal wear of teeth surfaces, inefficient chewing, and excessive strain on supporting tissues. Misalignment of the jaw joints can also occur, which can result in headaches, neck pain, and other symptoms of TMJ disorder. Treating the orthodontic problem can cost less money, time, and discomfort than having to repair long-term damage to your mouth.
If you think you or a loved one might need orthodontic treatment, contact your orthodontist for a consultation appointment. At this time, the doctor can take X-rays, examine your whole mouth, and review the treatment options. Because of advances in orthodontics, patient have a variety of choices to straighten their teeth, including clear brackets, self-ligating brackets, and Invisalign clear aligners for adults or older teen patients.
We love creating beautiful, healthy smiles at our Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic practice – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS.
Brushing and flossing are important components of protecting your dental health. When you have braces, however, good oral hygiene becomes even more critical. If you don’t take good care of your teeth while wearing braces, you can develop issues like plaque, gum disease, and bad breath.
Because braces cover your teeth and remain in your mouth, food can get trapped in between teeth. This situation creates an optimal environment for plaque, the sticky film that coats your mouth and teeth. If patients don’t remove plaque from around braces, this substance can harden in to tartar, which leads to oral health problems.
Consider the following suggestions to help protect your teeth or your child’s teeth during orthodontic treatment:
Brushing
Select a soft-bristle toothbrush. If you like, look for toothbrushes specially designed for people with braces; these products have longer bristles on the outside and shorter ones in the center. Plan to brush three times a day, especially after meals, which will prevent food from staying trapped between brackets. Time yourself so that you brush for at least two minutes.
Flossing
Although flossing can be more difficult with braces, patients need to make the extra effort. Your orthodontist can recommend special products that will help you thread the floss under the wires. Ask your orthodontist if you aren’t sure about the right technique.
General Dental Care
For patients with braces, many orthodontists and dentists recommend more frequent visits to the family dentist. An extra cleaning can help remove any build up and allow your regular dentist to monitor your oral health. Your doctor may recommend a fluoride rinse for added protection.
Schedule an orthodontic consultation at Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic practice – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS
Have you recently had braces applied? If so, you’ll want to take care of them so they’ll do their work as quickly and efficiently as possible, but you’ll also want to take care of your teeth underneath, and that means developing or maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits. Hopefully you already have these habits in place, but getting braces means you’ll have to increase your vigilance toward oral hygiene and that you’ll have to get a little creative when it comes to hygiene steps that used to be routine, such as flossing.
When you have braces, food can get trapped around the brackets, bands, under the wires and beneath the gumline in ways that didn’t happen before the braces were in place. In order to keep your gums and teeth health so that you can enjoy a bright, beautiful, straight smile when the braces come off, you need to be certain that you’re cleaning your teeth in the best way possible.
Brushing becomes more complicated with braces. You must use a soft bristle toothbrush and clean first carefully between the bracket and the gumline. Angle your brush head downward toward the gum, allowing you to brush slightly beneath the gumline and removing food particles. Next, brush on top of the brackets, again angling your brush downward. Do this for the inner and outer arches of both your upper and lower teeth at least twice a day or after meals, but especially before bedtime.
In order to floss your teeth, you’ll need to thread the floss behind the wire and then floss normally, removing and rethreading the floss in the wire between each bracket. Run the floss along the body of the tooth, beneath the gumline, for each tooth. It’s recommend that you use a waterpik in order to remove the maximum amount of food, debris and bacteria that could lead to gum disease.
Take care of your oral hygiene while you are wearing braces, and when they finally come off, you’ll be left with the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed of having.
Dr. Fotovat offers braces to patients in the Burbank CA area.
More and more adults today are getting braces on their teeth. It may be their first time for orthodontic treatment, or it may be another go-round after their mouth changed after having braces during their youth. No matter the situation, so many adults wear braces these days that it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Adult braces can be a life-changing choice for many people.
Why should adults consider braces?
Some orthodontists report that almost half of their patients are adults. The truth is that at any age, people long for beautiful smiles. Having crooked teeth or misaligned bites can be a detriment in the business world, and certainly people believe there are social advantages to a nice smile as well.
Are there advantages to getting braces as an adult?
Although orthodontics improves the smiles for many children, there are some additional benefits that adults have. Adults tend to be more aware of the effects of foods on their teeth and braces, so they follow their orthodontist’s advice more carefully about diet restrictions. Also, people who are paying for their own treatment instead of relying on their parents usually want the most of their money and are careful with their braces and related guidelines.
Will treatment last longer in adults?
Wearing braces is really only as successful as the follow-through. It is vital to wear your retainer as instructed so that your teeth don’t change. Also, keeping a permanent retainer on for the rest of your life is a great way to make sure your teeth don’t move. As always, proper dental care including regular brushing, flossing, and checkups is the ideal way to maintain your beautiful new smile.
Orthodontist Dr. Fotovat treats adults, teens, and children from Sherman Oaks, CA and the surrounding areas.
