A balanced diet also means less sugar. Sugar causes plaque to form around braces, which can grab food while you eat.
Place these smaller pieces at the back of your mouth so that you can chew with your back teeth. [2] X Research source Avoid tearing food apart with your front teeth, where any particles can easily get stuck.
Carry a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse or pockets in order to keep up good oral hygiene while you’re out. If you let plaque remain on your teeth by not brushing, it can leave stains on your teeth and cause inflamed gums, which may lead to spontaneous bleeding. Your dentist may also tell you to use a fluoride mouthwash to further break down plaque.
It’s also good to check your braces in the pocket mirror quickly before engaging in conversation after the meal.
Pull out your pocket mirror and glance down at it without drawing attention to yourself. Run your tongue over your braces to feel for large food particles while someone else is talking. Pull a napkin over your mouth and run one finger over the most visible parts of your braces to check for large food pieces.
Hold the napkin up as a visual barrier with one hand and get food out with the other hand.
Do this while someone else is talking so that the focus is not on you. Swishing water around like this repeatedly throughout a meal will go a long way toward keeping food from sticking to your braces. Some dentists recommend rinsing with warm water throughout the day.
Only use toothpicks to get food out from behind wires and do not apply too much force or you risk detaching the bracket or bending the wire. [5] X Research source Be careful to avoid using the toothpick between teeth to remove food since this can damage your teeth. You can use a toothpick to clear blocked braces while sitting at the table by using a napkin as a shield. Otherwise, go to the bathroom and use the mirror there to locate and eradicate food particles with a toothpick.
Use it to clear food particles out from behind wires. You can find interdental toothbrushes at most big box stores.
Dairy —Yogurt, soft cheeses Bread —Slices of soft bread, pancakes, soft tortillas Grains —Pasta, rice Meat —Cooked meats, lunch meat Seafood —Most dinner fish like salmon and tilapia Cooked vegetables Mashable fruits —Bananas, applesauce Soups
Nuts Hard candy Chips Whole apples Raw carrots Hard crusty bread Ice Bagels
Candy Chocolate Baked goods Sweetened yogurt Sugary syrups
Toffee Licorice Hard candy Caramels Tootsie rolls All gum (even sugar free)
If you absolutely have to, you may drink a sugary drink once a week if it is followed by water, which can pull any leftover sugar molecules away before they make purchase with plaque. #*Sugary drinks include: sweet tea, sports drinks, Kool-Aid, and soda.
