Taking Care Of Your Teeth Before Braces

Braces are a great way to get the perfectly straight and evenly spaced teeth you’ve been dreaming of. Before you get your braces on, however, you need to make sure that your teeth and gums are in great shape.

Teeth Cleaning and Checkup

If it has been a while since you had your teeth cleaned and checked by a dentist, you’ll want to do that before you get your braces on. Most people who wear braces will have them on between 18 months and 30 months. That’s a long time for small problems in your mouth to become larger ones. For example, if you have a small cavity that you don’t get fixed before your braces go on, you may be in line for a root canal or even a crown because that small cavity will grow larger while your braces are on.

Schedule an Appointment

Make an appointment to see your dentist about a month before you get your braces on. The dental practitioner can take x-rays of your teeth and clean them thoroughly before you get your braces on. That way, if you have a problem with one of your teeth, you can get it taken care of before your braces’ appointment.

Don’t Forget to Floss!

If you haven’t been a good flosser before, it is even more important that you floss well once your braces are on. Flossing is different with braces than without them, so make sure you get into the flossing habit now, so you’ll be ready to floss with braces.

Sticky, Crunchy Foods

People who love popcorn, whole apples, caramel, or taffy need to have a bit of those treats before they get braces on. You won’t be able to eat them once you have braces because you run the risk of breaking a bracket or a wire. The more times your brackets or wires break, the longer you may have to wear braces.