How to Prevent Braces from Breaking or Hurting

Braces have been one of the most amazing dental treatments ever created. They have been around for centuries and have evolved significantly. But despite the evolution and advancements, there are some braces problems that still cause issues for people going through the treatment. Braces need a lot of maintenance, such as food restrictions and keeping everything clean to avoid pain and discomfort. In this blog, we will discuss tips for avoiding braces damage and tricks for braces pain prevention.

Watch What You Eat (Yes, That Includes Popcorn)

Foods that break braces are a real thing. Crunchy, sticky, chewy, or hard foods can easily mess things up. Popcorn, hard candies, gum, nuts, or even crusty bread can break your brackets or bend the wires, which means more trips to the orthodontist, and nobody wants that.

Braces-friendly foods include:

• Soft-cooked veggies
• Pasta, rice, and noodles
• Soups and stews
• Bananas, yogurt, mashed potatoes
• Smoothies

Pro tip: Cut food into smaller bites and chew with your back teeth to avoid putting too much pressure on the brackets in front.

Be Gentle with Brushing and Flossing

Yes, brushing your teeth with braces takes more time, but skipping it is just asking for trouble. If food gets stuck in your braces, it can turn into gross plaque and cause your gums to be sore later, and nobody wants that.

Here’s how to clean your teeth without messing up your braces:

• Use a soft toothbrush (or an electric one on a gentle setting) so you don’t poke anything too hard.
• Angle your brush a little to get under the wires and around the brackets — don’t just brush straight.
• Flossing is tricky, but don’t skip it! Use a water flosser or floss threader so you don’t yank on the wires.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Your teeth are not scissors, not bottle openers, and definitely not package rippers. Biting into hard plastic or tearing things open with your teeth can bend the archwires or pop off a bracket in seconds. Not worth the hassle.

Don’t Let the Pain Sneak Up on You

After you get your braces tightened, your teeth might feel kind of sore for a day or two. But you can make it easier on yourself:

• If your orthodontist says it’s okay, take a painkiller like paracetamol.
• Stick to soft stuff like mashed potatoes, soup, or yogurt for a bit.
• Swish warm salty water in your mouth to soothe your gums; it actually helps!

Basically, treat your mouth like it’s been through a workout and give it some chill time.

Handling Loose Brackets and Wires the Right Way

Accidents happen; sometimes a bracket comes loose, or a wire pokes out. Here’s what to do:

• First, it's important to stay calm. It’s not a huge deal unless it really hurts.
• If something sharp is sticking out, put a little wax on it so it doesn’t cut your mouth.
• And please, don’t try to fix it yourself, no yanking or cutting wires at home! Just call your orthodontist and go for a check as soon as they can see you.

Wear Your Protective Gear

If you play sports (especially contact sports like football, rugby, or hockey), you need a mouthguard . There are special braces-friendly sports mouthguards that fit over your brackets and keep everything protected during a game or practice.

Do Braces Always Hurt?

Not really, braces are a great treatment, but they are only good and beneficial if you care for them. If you don’t maintain your braces and take precautions, like avoiding hard foods, and following a good oral hygiene routine, this treatment can become quite painful and hectic. Follow the guidelines provided by your orthodontist to ensure an optimal braces experience.