The goal of getting braces is to straighten your teeth and improve your smile, so it is no surprise that you are in a hurry to see the finished result. While you can't get your braces off before your teeth have been corrected, there are some ways you can decrease how long you need to wear them for. Here are some easy ways to get your braces off early.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It is essential that you focus on good oral hygiene every day when you have braces. Even if it seems more difficult to brush and floss, don't let this deter you from cleaning your teeth daily. If you don't brush as often as you should, you could get tooth decay, which prolongs how long you have to wear your braces. If you want your braces off quickly, brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and after meals if necessary.
Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods
There are certain foods that can easily get stuck in your braces and between the brackets, which actually causes damage. Whether damaging them while chewing these foods, or when you try to get them out, you are causing damage and will have your braces on for a longer period of time. Only eat the foods as recommended by your orthodontist, and avoid anything too hard, crunchy or sticky. Many of these items also have a lot of sugar, which lead to tooth decay.
Stop Biting Your Nails
There are a number of nervous habits that can cause damage to your braces over time, and chewing on your nails is one of the major ones. Stop biting your nails as soon as you get braces. Not only could it damage your braces, but your fingers might not be as clean as you think, and actually add to the bacteria in your mouth. Other habits to stop doing include chewing on objects like straws, and using your teeth to open packages or containers.
Chop Food Well Before Eating
Some foods are acceptable when you have braces, but they are a little too hard to eat whole. If you are eating hard and crunchy foods like carrots or other vegetables, chop them into smaller pieces before eating them. Your front teeth take a lot of the force when biting into a carrot, and can eventually lead to fractures in your braces.
For more information, contact Dr. Fred Guerra DMD or a similar dental professional.
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