Crooked teeth, misaligned bites, and discoloration... Many children, without a set of straight and beautiful teeth, are afraid to laugh heartily in front of their teachers, classmates, and families. For future career and marriage prospects, during the summer vacation, many parents are enthusiastic about taking their children to the hospital for "dental cosmetic treatments" to correct prominent buck teeth, "underbites," and yellowish-black teeth.
In this regard, experts specially remind that correct and scientific care after correction, and other precautions, are even more important. [How to care for teeth after correction] 1. Avoid eating hard foods like bones and shells
During the teeth correction period, in addition to following the doctor's instructions, you must also be careful to care for the braces on your teeth. Shen Wenjie from the Stomatology Department Outpatient Clinic of Xinhua Hospital suggests that you should first avoid eating hard-textured foods, such as bone-type foods, crab, and nuts. You should also avoid eating large pieces of food; for example, cut apples into small pieces before eating. This can prevent the attachments of the braces from loosening due to improper diet, allowing the entire correction process to proceed smoothly. 2. Rinse your mouth with water or tea after meals
The human mouth has normal resident bacteria, and there are also a large number of microorganisms in the air. The mouth often has "contact" with the outside world. Therefore, there are many normal pathogenic bacteria in the mouth. When braces are worn, they can interfere with brushing. If the teeth are not brushed well and food remains between them, bacteria will multiply in large numbers, causing cavities or periodontal tissue inflammation, which can disrupt the entire treatment process. Therefore, the ideal way to care for your teeth is to brush after every meal. If brushing after meals is not convenient, you can rinse your mouth with water or tea. 3. Children should eat fewer snacks during teeth correction
In addition to the precautions mentioned above, children should also reduce their intake of snacks and candies during teeth correction, especially chewing gum. Because chewing gum sticks to the braces and is difficult to remove. During the process of adolescent teeth correction, parents must pay special attention to supervising their children to follow the doctor's advice, such as regular hospital check-ups, wire changes, and wearing rubber bands. Otherwise, the correction process will be prolonged, and the ideal correction effect will not be achieved.
When correcting teeth, a very light traction force is used to slowly move the teeth, which will not cause significant discomfort to the patient. However, in the first few days of wearing the braces, the teeth may feel sore and uncomfortable. At this time, you can eat soft foods like congee or porridge. After about a week of adaptation, you can return to a normal diet, but you must still pay attention to the care of your teeth and braces. [Precautions for teeth correction patients] 1. Maintain oral cleanliness
Braces are bonded to the teeth with an adhesive and exert force on the teeth through orthodontic appliances to achieve ideal tooth movement. A good correction effect not only requires the doctor's superb skills but also the patient's close cooperation. Chen Jie from the Stomatology Department of Xinhua Hospital reminds that teeth correction patients need to maintain good oral hygiene. The correct brushing method is to use a small-headed, soft-bristled children's toothbrush and brush vertically. The movements should be gentle and slow, for 3 to 5 minutes each time. 2. Avoid eating sticky foods
In addition, the food you eat every day should also be noted. You cannot啃 or bite things; meat must be cut with a knife or torn into small pieces by hand before eating, and you cannot use your teeth to directly啃 or tear; you cannot eat overly sticky foods. Also, glutinous rice products like rice cakes cannot be eaten. If you are not careful when eating, it can cause the braces to fall off or be damaged, which not only increases treatment costs and the number of follow-up visits but also prolongs the correction process.