It’s always important to take very good care of one’s teeth. This is especially true once you have braces installed, since they allow small food particles to find comfortable crannies to easily sneak in. Braces, depending on its kind can also be damaged depending on a lot of factors—causing a world of discomfort and annoyances.

Below, we run down a list of things that Dr. Beduya says you should keep in mind to make sure your teeth stay healthy, and your braces sturdy and doing its job.

1. Brush After Every Meal. As mentioned above, braces leave room for small food particles to sneak into. There are special brushes out there for people with braces. Make sure you also bring a floss and mouthwash with you, so you can flush out all of those nasty fragments completely.
2. Keep Track of Your Tooth Brush. Now that you have braces, you’ll need brushing more than ever. That also means your brush will get worn out faster. To make sure your teeth and brackets always stay clean, replace your brushes every so often.
3. Wear Your Elastics. Literally, your elastics can determine the progress of your therapy. Make sure to always wear them as advised by your orthodontist. Also make sure to replace them when needed. Elastics are there to provide pressure on your teeth so that they move towards the desired direction. Through time, they also lose elasticity, which again, can affect the progress of your therapy.
4. Follow Your Recommended Diet. No popcorn or any sticky or hard foods. Hard foods like candies can damage and break your wires and brackets. Unless you want this happening to you, remember to just stick with the food you’re allowed to have.
5. No Unnecessary Chewing. Stop those nasty habits of chewing on your pen or nails. Yes, they are damaging not just your teeth, but your braces too.
6. Always Show Up for Your Appointment. It is of utmost importance that you regularly see your orthodontist during the time you’re wearing braces—so he/she can check on your progress, properly adjust your brackets, and tell you if you’re doing anything that’s damaging your braces. This is also the time when you can raise any other concerns or questions you may have about your oral health.

Dr. Edward Beduya is a licensed orthodontic and TMJ-specialist who, for more than 14 years now, have been providing countless patients the gift of new lives and beautiful smile, including celebrities, models, and politicians. To book a consultation with Dr. Beduya, you may call (02) 354-5388 today. Beduya Dental Clinic is located at Unit 110 Pacific Regency, 760 Ocampo St, Malate, Manila, 1004.