5 Braces Tips You Need to Know

Morita Orthodontics is your premier provider for Aiea, HI & Honolulu, HI Orthodontics, and we strive to put our patients first and help you achieve a bright & beautiful smile. Whether you just got your braces on or you’re headed back to school with braces, here are five must-know tips & tricks when it comes to achieving the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!

1. Avoid Teeth Whitening Products

Whitening products are great, but not while you have metal or ceramic braces cemented to your teeth. Why? The reason you should avoid teeth whitening products is that they will only whiten some parts of your teeth, leaving you with patchy discoloration. In other words, the part of your teeth underneath the brackets will be shielded from the whitening agent, so when you get your braces off, you’ll have noticeable discoloration—which kind of defeats the purpose! That being said, this really only applies to traditional braces and ceramic braces. That means if you have Invisalign, you’re good to go. Otherwise, hold off on teeth whitening until after your braces come off.

2. Don’t Chew On Your Pen…

…or other weird stuff for that matter. The reason for this is twofold. First of all, when you chew on hard objects that aren’t food, you run the risk of breaking a wire or popping off a bracket. Secondly, chewing on something like a pen will wear down your tooth enamel over time and can even damage the muscles in your jaw. Moral of the story? When it comes to chewing, stick to food.

3. If You Have Ceramic Braces or Invisalign, Avoid Foods That Will Stain

If you don’t want your ceramic braces or Invisalign trays to turn yellowish-brown in color, be sure to steer clear of foods that easily stain like tomato paste (like marinara sauce), mustard, coffee, or any other drinks that are dark in color. You’ll also want to avoid spices like turmeric and curry because they can turn your ceramic braces or Invisalign trays a bright orange or neon yellow color. If you’re not sure about a certain food, think of it this way—if it would stain your carpet, it will most likely stain your braces, too.

4. Avoid Certain Foods, Especially Those That Are Chewy or Hard

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it bears repeating because it is so important, and too often we see patients come in with broken wires or braces because they ate something they weren’t supposed to. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to give up these foods altogether. Instead, we suggest modifying the way you eat. For instance, instead of eating an apple whole, cut it up into small pieces for a healthy & braces-friendly snack. Another example is cutting the corn off the cob to avoid any tricky braces situations. Nevertheless, you should still stay away from gum, hard candies, and nuts. But don’t worry, there are still tons of Recipes for Braces and other yummy foods you can eat.

5. Smile!

I have a few awkward school pictures where I’m doing the infamous no-teeth smile. Not only do I look awkward and uncomfortable, but I look like I have something to hide. It would have looked so much better if I had just smiled like I normally do! After all, so many people have braces these days, and it’s really no big deal. Just remember to be yourself and smile!

Contact Your Local Aiea, HI & Honolulu, HI Orthodontist Today!

If you’re interested in traditional metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign in Honolulu, HI or Aiea, HI, you’ve come to the right place. At Morita Orthodontics, Dr. Morita & Dr. Scott are proud to provide patients with the best orthodontics in Honolulu, HI and Aiea, HI. If you have any questions or are interested in any of our orthodontic treatments, please feel free to contact us and make an appointment today!