Okay, we dentists get it – you don’t want braces. But as annoying as they are, braces are an important part of ensuring your teeth are aligned, straight and without crowding.

This being said, to get the most from your braces without extractions, it is important to follow a few important tips so that you can get them off without a hitch!

Here are five vital tips for dental care when wearing braces:

• Brush it up even more

Brushing your teeth – alongside flossing – is one of the most essential things you can do for your dental health. Most people brush their teeth at least once, if not twice, daily, as it is the best way to keep your teeth and gums clean and hygienic.

But there is a heightened risk of getting bacteria-producing food caught in your teeth and gums when wearing braces, which means it is probably a good idea to brush them even more!

We dentists recommend brushing your teeth after every meal when using braces, as this obviously removes at least most of the food and gunk that can cause problems.

• Floss, too

Most people scoff at the idea of flossing daily. Why would you want to? It’s gross, it’s a pain, and it generally seems like one of those annoying daily tasks that don’t fall under the essential daily hygiene category alongside brushing, showering etc.

But it is absolutely imperative to dental health and especially so when wearing braces. Truth be told, flossing when wearing braces can be a bit of a nuisance, and can unfortunately be even more disheartening when using them, but there are ways you can do it without it causing you too much drama.

Instead of using regular floss, why not try using interdental brushes or floss threaders to ensure you can provide your teeth with a good floss without the regular troubles that are associated with normal floss.

• Avoid particular foods

One of the things that really sucks about getting braces is having to avoid certain foods. However, when you consider the awesome results your braces will have, it’s not that hard to consider avoiding foods that could potentially damage or reduce your braces’ positive results.

So, anything that is excessively chewy, crunchy, sticky or hard should be avoided, as all of these can easily damage your braces and their alignment on your teeth. What’s more, drinking accessible sugary drinks like soft drinks and high-sugar fruit drinks can cause the sugar to become wedged between your teeth and braces, thus potentially staining the teeth in the lines of where your braces once sat.

• Use fluoride mouthwash

Fluoride mouthwash should become an essential part of your bathroom cabinet. Fluoride mouthwash is designed to rid the mouth of bacteria and fight against germs as you go on with your daily routine.

Of course, fluoride rinsing isn’t generally a part of everyone’s daily hygiene routine, but when you’re looking to get the best results from your braces without the risk of germ and bacteria buildup then fluoride mouthwash is the way to go.

• Check in with your dentist

You should check in with your dentist every three months and your orthodontist every six months, why? Because your dentist can conduct a thorough teeth clean and your orthodontist can track your braces’ progress.

Both are essential for maintaining proper dental hygiene and ensuring you are getting the most out of your progress towards aligned and straight teeth without any annoying crowding!