Cut the food into small pieces, it is better to grate hard fruits and vegetables or grind in a blender. Remove elastic (traction) before eating and do not forget to put it back on after brushing your teeth. Do not use toothpicks to clean the gaps – they can severely injure the gums or damage the bracket system. Do not consume a lot of sugar and foods with acids – they corrode enamel, which is already subject to significant stress after installing the system. Make a varied diet, including vitamins, minerals, fiber, magnesium, calcium. Useful components are needed to maintain the health of the gums and the entire oral cavity, then your orthodontic treatment will not be overshadowed by additional procedures for the treatment and restoration of teeth.
Keep track of the temperature of the food – it affects the teeth and the operation of the bracket system. They are activated by the natural temperature in the oral cavity. During the use of cold water or ice cream arc stop their movement. In the first days after the installation of braces, when the pressure on the teeth is especially strong, you can briefly reduce pain by eating or drinking something cold.
Also, do not forget about the basic rules, relevant and without braces: it is not recommended to combine very hot and very cold products in one meal – tooth enamel cracks from sudden changes.
After-Care Braces Care
If you managed to manage with braces only with chewing gum after eating, then with the installation of the system you will have to acquire a whole arsenal of care devices and put in the lunch plan an additional 15 minutes for dental care.
The ideal algorithm for brushing your teeth with braces after eating looks like this:
- Teeth brushing with a special brush for braces with a recess for a number of locks. In addition, you can thoroughly clean the space around each bracket with a monoblock brush.
- Cleaning hard-to-reach places between locks and under an arch with the help of orthodontic brushes.
- Super floss cleansing of tooth gaps.
- Rinse the mouth.
- Fastening elastic rods (if you wear them)
But if you don’t have time to do all this after each meal, then do not forget about the rinse aid and toothbrushes in order to get rid of noticeable food debris under the braces.
What can I eat with braces?
Installation of braces does not mean a strict rejection of your favorite dishes – in time you will get used to the design on your teeth and the pain will go away. Of course, it’s better not to bite nuts, crackers and lollipops, but it’s not necessary to sit on a strict diet from mashed potatoes. Your menu should be varied and useful, because orthodontic treatment is a restructuring of the entire dentition and the body needs more vitamins and minerals as never before.
The list of useful products for those who wear braces:
- Dairy Products – Calcium, Vitamin D
- Fish, seafood – phosphorus, selenium, iodine, fluorine
- Eggs – Vitamin D
- Honey – strengthens the enamel, prevents the growth of bacteria
- Cereals, bran – magnesium, fiber
- Celery – prevents plaque formation
- Leafy vegetables, greens – calcium, iron, zinc
- Apples, Citrus – Vitamin C
- Sea kale – iodine
Braces are a great way to diversify your menu and look for interesting new recipes. To get started, use our healthy and unusual breakfast option:
Avocado and peppermint smoothie recipe:
Ingredients: avocado (2 pcs.), Green apple (1 pc.), Kefir (600 ml), lemon (1 pc.), Parsley (40 g), fresh mint (100 g), honey (1 tsp). Preparation: pulp of avocado, parsley and mint leaves, grind the apple in a blender. Mix with lemon juice, kefir and honey.