Can Traditional Metal Braces Damage Your Teeth?

While having braces tends to lead beautiful, healthy smiles that patients are proud to show off, it does not mean that while having braces you are not supposed to take care of them still. Because traditional metal braces have ruts and grooves that can trap food particles. Left unattended they can cause serous risks of tooth decay and gum problems while wearing braces. While in traditional metal braces, your orthodontist will reiterate the importance of caring for your braces and teeth.

Proper diet and cleaning everyday will help to reduce the risk of permanent tooth enamel damage from occurring. In the early stages of tooth decay, enamel may begin to lose minerals which results in white spots appearing on a tooth. Gingivitis may also start to develop leaving the gums inflamed and often bleeding. If caught early enough both tooth decay and gingivitis can be reversed by taking extra special care of teeth with cleaning and diet. On the reverse side, if left untreated, they can lead to bigger problems later in life that will require treatment and perhaps surgery.

While in your metal braces, patients will need to have regular checkups to make sure that not only is the treatment and procedures working as they should with reforming your smile, but that proper care is being taken with your cleanings at home.

Although you have a restricted diet while wearing traditional metal braces, there are certain foods that can lead to losing tooth enamel with or without the accessories of braces. Certain acidic food and drink consumed more frequently over time can cause this effect. While some of these high acid foods can be good for your body, they may be bad for your teeth. These can include apples, oranges, tomatoes, pickles, sodas and salsas. On a different note, starchy foods such as potatoes can stick to your teeth and also cause tooth decay. If consuming these foods it may be wise to brush your teeth, or at least rinse thoroughly after to help clean your teeth and help prevent enamel from becoming damaged. It is always best to consult with a dentist or your orthodontist to find which practices would help to decrease your chances of tooth decay or gum disease.

Furthermore, when in metal braces make sure that you are following your orthodontists rules about which foods you are allowed to eat. Although apples, popcorn and chewing gum is delicious these three are the most common of what NOT to eat while wearing traditional metal braces. These hard and sticky foods can become a danger to the wires holding brackets together and will get caught up in the indents of the brackets making it harder for you to clean out yourself.

Metal braces are an important part of creating a long last, healthy and beautiful smile, but it is also just as important to take care of them and your teeth while in that process. When undergoing this journey of traditional braces in Orlando, Windermere and Apopka, FLmake sure to turn to the experts at Baptiste Orthodontics.