Brushing and Flossing
Dr. Steven Guelff takes oral hygiene very seriously. It is more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy during orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Dr. Guelff recommends that all orthodontic patients see their general dentist at least every six months.
Eating with Braces
What can you eat? Let us talk about what you should not eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables. Before long, you will be able to bite a cucumber again. But you will need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you are wearing braces.
- Foods to avoid
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice, pizza crust
- Crunchy foods: popcorn kernels, ice
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum, Skittles, Starburst
- Hard foods: nuts, candy, beef jerky
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples and carrots
Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer, and will require more frequent visits.
If you have any questions about how to care for your braces, or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Guelff in Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid, Florida, please contact Guelff Orthodontics at 863-382-2108.