Your ceramic coated braces represent a significant investment in resolving alignment issues and providing you with an appealing smile. Even though your braces are designed for durability, they can still be damaged by certain activities, foods and lifestyle choices. If your braces are damaged it can increase the amount of time you have to wear them.
Sticky foods and chewing gum tends to get stuck in your braces. This can bend wires, loosen bands or even cause the resin adhesive holding your brackets to come loose. Crunchy foods and hard candy as well as chewing on hard objects like things like pencils, pens and ice can also break wires and brackets.
If something does come loose, you can secure it inside a piece of orthodontic wax to keep it from injuring your cheek or gums.
If you participate in contact sports you will want to talk to your dentist about being fitted for a custom mouth guard. This unit will help protect your teeth and braces while also allowing for easy breathing.
Keep in mind that the ceramic coating on your braces will not stain as easily as the enamel of your natural teeth. This can be a big problem if you regularly use tobacco. If you do develop staining issues you will need to avoid using whitening products as they won’t be able to affect the enamel under the brackets. This will lead to noticeable difference when your braces are removed.
Make sure to brush and floss at least twice a day. Dental water jets, interdental brushes and floss threaders can help you clean hard to reach areas and maintain good oral health.
If you have questions about your ceramic braces you can call us at 830-268-4447 to schedule your next appointment.
