You’ll want to do everything possible to ensure treatment success when you have braces or Invisalign. After all, orthodontics is a big investment — it would be a waste to do something that could ruin or delay your straight smile. That said, you’d be wise to be careful of orthodontic emergencies. If you aren’t careful, damage to your appliance could derail the procedure and cause intense pain. Thankfully, your local dentist is here to help. Read on to learn four tips for preventing orthodontic emergencies in Parsippany.
Practice Good Oral Care
Strong oral hygiene does more than just maintain your teeth and gums; it keeps braces and similar appliances functional.
Given this fact, remember to clean your mouth daily. In particular, brush your teeth twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash as needed. Doing so will remove trapped food particles and plaque, thus reducing the odds of a treatment-delaying infection.
Eat Smart
Traditional metal braces seem sturdy enough for most people. Even so, they can be damaged if you chew on the wrong things. You should thus avoid chewy, sticky, and hard foods while wearing braces.
Take ice or jawbreakers, for instance. These harder items can break braces’ brackets if you aren’t careful. Your dentist would then have to attach a new one, which could be expensive.
Chewier, stickier products like popcorn or chewing gum are also hazardous. Such things could bend your treatment’s wires, which could then poke your cheek or lip and cause inflammation.
Avoid Injuries
In sports and other physical activities, mouth and jaw injuries are pretty standard. These incidents can cause chips, fractures, and knocked-out teeth even without orthodontics. Needless to say, they can also really damage your oral appliance.
One way to avoid these accidents would be to wear a mouthguard. That way, your sports and other actions won’t cause problems for your braces or aligners. The mouthguard’s layer of acrylic resin would protect your pearly whites from harsh external forces.
Don’t Ignore Pain or Discomfort
Soreness at the beginning of orthodontic treatment is normal. However, make an appointment with your orthodontist if it lasts more than 3-5 days. They can resolve your situation before it develops into a full-blown emergency. In the meantime, you can reduce this symptom by gargling salt water and taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
You can’t always prevent dental emergencies, but you can make them much less likely to happen. That said, practice the tips above during your smile-straightening journey!
About the Practice
Rauchberg Dental Group is based in Parsippany, NJ. As led by its excellent cast of dentists, the practice provides patients with comprehensive dental care. It thus offers high-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as various emergency procedures. The dental team can also perform orthodontic services with braces and Invisalign clear aligners. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (973)-718-988.