What should you eat and how should you maintain oral hygiene while wearing braces?

Braces are a commonly used treatment today, helping to move teeth and create a straight smile. However, when wearing braces, food and plaque tend to trap more easily, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Proper oral hygiene while wearing braces reduces the risk of cavities and gum inflammation - Illustration.

According to Dr. Trinh Thi Hong Gam from Bach Mai Hospital, the orthodontic treatment process for each patient can last 1-3 years, or even longer, depending on the degree of misalignment of the teeth and the orthodontic plan chosen by the doctor and the patient.

While wearing braces, teeth tend to trap food and plaque more easily, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Therefore, oral hygiene while wearing braces is crucial for optimal orthodontic treatment results. Oral hygiene and what to eat while wearing braces are issues of great concern to many people.

Brush your teeth correctly

Dr. Gam advises that people wearing braces should choose a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits comfortably in their mouth and has a tapered head. Brush your teeth in a downward or circular motion on all tooth surfaces: the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces.

For the braces, brush both the top and bottom of the braces. Use an interdental brush with an up-and-down motion to brush the sides of the braces.

Using dental floss with a length of about 20-25cm, thread the floss through the archwire and perform a pulling-in, up-and-down motion to clean between the teeth.

Additionally, you can also use a toothbrush specifically designed for teeth with braces. This type of toothbrush has a special design, suitable for the spaces between teeth with brackets, and its small brush head easily reaches and cleans away food debris.

It is recommended to use toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride is an essential mineral for the formation of tooth enamel and dentin, protecting enamel and preventing cavities.

Brush your teeth 2-3 times a day and don't forget to clean your tongue with a toothbrush to remove 70% of the bacteria that accumulate on the tongue.

Alternatively, you can use a water flosser. Water flossers are dental cleaning tools that use water, and are especially useful for people with braces. They use a high-intensity stream of water to reach deep into the spaces between teeth, effectively cleaning the wires and brackets.

Dietary recommendations while wearing braces.

Dr. Gam also noted a few things to keep in mind regarding diet while wearing braces:

You may experience discomfort and pain when you first get braces. During this time, you should only eat soft foods such as porridge, soup, rice, smoothies, and juices.

Always cut food into small pieces to make it easier to chew and swallow, and to reduce pressure on your teeth.

Avoid hard or sticky foods like popcorn, candy, ribs, chicken feet, etc., as these can affect the periodontal tissues around the teeth, dislodging braces and affecting treatment time.

Avoid sticky foods like coconut candy and chewing gum, as they can stick to your teeth or braces, making oral hygiene difficult.

Besides paying attention to what to eat while wearing braces, you also need to consider when to eat. In particular, you should avoid eating sugary foods before bed without brushing your teeth first.

LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/an-gi-ve-sinh-rang-the-nao-khi-dang-nieng-rang-20250520174712391.htm