While there are many different types of braces, they all require special care while brushing, flossing, and eating. Your local orthodontist will let you know exactly what you need to do to take care of your teeth as you straighten them, but it never hurts to learn more on your own. Here are a few general rules and guidelines for your daily dental routine.

Brush after every time you eat.
Brushing twice a day is usually enough for most people without braces, but because food can easily get stuck in and around your braces, it is important to do at least a quick brush after every meal with a soft bristle head. That includes small snacks, too!

Use a fluoride rinse.
After all of the work your braces do to align your teeth, the last thing you want is to have white spots on the front of your teeth after an orthodontist takes them off. You can avoid these stains by rinsing with a specially formulated fluoride mouthwash once a day.

Avoid certain foods.
You probably already know that chewing gum is a no-no, and so are similarly sticky candies like taffy and caramel. You should also want to avoid chomping down too hard on crunchy foods like pretzels, ice, or carrots, which might cause wires to snap.

Mind your mouth.
If a wire breaks or a bracket is irritating the inside of your mouth, don’t panic. Find a local orthodontist to fix your braces in Chicago as soon as you can. Soreness and loose teeth are also common, but if you think you have an emergency, don’t hesitate to call.

Whether you’re an adult who wants to improve their teeth or the parent of a child who will soon need braces, choosing an orthodontist is one of the best decisions you can make to improve confidence in your smile. According to a survey from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 99.7 percent of all people think that having a healthy smile is socially important, so braces could be your ticket to a whole new lifestyle. Make sure you care for your whole mouth while you have your braces on, and you’ll have an enviable set of pearly whites to flash once they come off.