If you’ve turned to traditional braces to correct your bite and alignment, you can rest assured knowing you’ve made a great decision! While you’ll have them in for a year or two, you will get a new smile that’ll improve your oral health and confidence by the end. Taking care of your braces at home may be easier, as you have everything you need in one place. However, following the same care at work might be a different story. Fear not, as this guide will give you five simple tips for wearing braces at work.
1.) Make a Braces Care Kit
Even though you are going through your workday, you’ll need to clean your braces. Food can get trapped in them, so having a travel-sized kit of all your oral health essentials can make maintenance more convenient.
A foldable toothbrush, mouthwash, dental wax, floss, floss threaders, and lip balm are good things to keep handy! If you have just gotten your braces on or new wires placed, packing in some pain relievers might be helpful as well.
2.) Carry a Water Bottle
If you’re like many adults, then a good cup of joe may call your name every morning. Whether your daily dose of caffeine comes from coffee or another drink, it can dry out your mouth. Without saliva to wash away any decay-causing bacteria, you’re at a higher risk of cavities forming between your teeth and braces. Keeping water nearby can help calm the impulse to have these beverages. Drinking plenty of it helps you stay hydrated and keep your mouth moist.
3.) Pack Your Own Lunch
With braces, you’ll want to avoid any foods that are sticky, hard, or crunchy. Since they are tougher to chew through, they can easily break brackets or bend wires. A reliable way to avoid these foods is to bring lunch from home. You’ll have more control over what you eat, as you can pack soft, nutritious foods and cut anything into smaller pieces if needed.
4.) Keep Objects Out of Your Mouth
One habit you’ll have to break with braces is chewing on hard objects! Whether it’s because you’re dealing with work stress or fidgeting, biting your pens or fingernails can break a bracket or wire. Not only that, but it can also even damage your teeth.
5.) Smile Proudly
You are never too old to straighten your teeth. In fact, one out of five orthodontic patients are over the age of 18. Even though you may look different for some months, you can smile proudly knowing that you are improving your oral health.
Though you’ll have to make some changes with how you go through your workday with braces, it’ll quickly become a routine. By the end, you’ll have a new smile that you may want to flash, so there is no shame in showing off the progress!
About the Practice
At Wigal Orthodontics of Columbus, we’re proud to have two skilled orthodontists who genuinely care about the grins they help shape. Dr. Timothy Wigal and Dr. Alex Kluemper utilize the latest orthodontic technology, ensuring your braces are as comfortable as possible. If you want to achieve your best smile or have questions about keeping your braces safe at work, schedule an appointment or call us at (614) 495-9002.