The longer you wear your braces, the more you’ll learn about what you can and cannot do with them. However, your orthodontist will provide you with a list of things to avoid during your orthodontic treatment until you’re used to them. This list is intended to keep you from injuring yourself, bending or shifting wires, or breaking brackets.
What to Avoid When Wearing Braces
Here are five things to avoid while having orthodontic treatment:
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Gum chewing – Chewing gum causes the gum to stick to your braces, causing brackets, wires, and bands to be pulled. This will put a strain on the hardware, potentially causing it to break off. Avoid chewing gum and other sticky substances.
- Chewing ice – Chewing ice is never a good idea, but it’s especially bad when you’re wearing braces. Chewing ice can easily cause you to break a bracket or bend a wire. These are both costly and unpleasant issues to address.
- Sodas and other sugary beverages: Sodas are extremely acidic. The acids found in sugar and carbonation can dissolve the glue that holds your brackets to your teeth. As a result, the brackets may simply fall off.
- Grinding your teeth – When stressed, many people have a habit of clenching or grinding their teeth. This can result in tooth and brace damage. If you think you clench or grind your teeth at night, talk to your orthodontist about getting a night guard.
- Using your teeth as tools – Using your teeth as tools is always a bad idea, but it’s especially bad when you’re wearing braces. Please do not use your teeth for anything other than eating, such as opening packages or chewing on objects. This can damage your brackets or chip your teeth.
Please contact your orthodontist for more information on how to properly care for your braces. Please contact Partha Dental Skin and Hair Clinic if you have any questions about Braces or orthodontic treatment.
