Are you thinking about undergoing orthodontic treatment? If so, you can look forward to many oral health benefits. In the meantime, though, you may have questions about how your treatment might affect your daily life. In particular, you might be nervous about wearing braces to work. What steps could make the experience easier for you? Here are five practical tips:
Pack an Oral Hygiene Kit
Oral hygiene is always important, but it becomes even more so during orthodontic treatment. You should keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, some floss, and a floss threader with you at your place of work. That way, it will be easy for you to give your mouth a quick cleaning after you eat. This will prevent food from staying stuck in your braces and reduce your risk of decay and bad breath.
Bring Your Own Snacks and Meals
When you first get braces, your mouth may be somewhat sore, so you should eat a soft diet for a few days. It would be smart to pack your own snacks and meals when you head to work. In some cases, it might be challenging to find a takeout restaurant with options that would not worsen your discomfort. Packing your own food can also prevent you from heading to the crunchy and chewy snacks in the office vending machine.
Drink Plenty of Water
When you stay hydrated, you promote saliva production. Both water and your body’s natural saliva can help your mouth to stay clean; they can rinse away food particles and bacteria that would otherwise cling to your braces. Sipping water can be particularly helpful if you are in a situation where you are unable to brush and floss your teeth right away after a meal.
Do Not Chew on Hard Objects
Some office workers have adopted the habit of chewing on the pens and pencils in their desk. Not only can doing so cause premature wear and tear on your tooth enamel, but it could also endanger your braces. Since the last thing you want is a broken bracket or wire, try not to put anything extremely hard in your mouth. If you need help to break a bad habit, you might try sucking on some sugar-free candy (just do not bite down on it).
Smile Confidently!
Some adult patients are self-conscious about the way their teeth look after they get braces. There is no need to be afraid that others will regard you as juvenile or unprofessional when you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. In fact, about one in four orthodontic patients are adults!
Wearing braces to work may require you to make some adjustments to your routine, but before you know it, your treatment will be nicely integrated with your normal activities.
Meet the Practice
The expert team at Northborough Dental Associates is proud to provide a full range of treatments for families in our area. If you are an adult who is eager to straighten your teeth, we would be happy to answer your questions about the road ahead. To book an appointment or learn more about us, get in touch at 508-571-0358.