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If you are considering braces or you’re already wearing them, you know that one of the things you want to avoid most is food stuck between your brackets. However, this is not a feat you can always avoid if you’re not sure how to do so. You may also find that when food does become stuck in there, figuring out how to successfully and carefully clean it poses a unique challenge. The good news is that we are ready to help you out with this issue, so you can arrive at a smile that is both straight and healthy.

Questions and Answers

Question: Is there something I can do while I’m eating to avoid getting food stuck between my braces?

Answer: Yes. We encourage you to cut your food into smaller pieces. This might mean cutting food into bite-size pieces at home before sending your teen’s lunch with him or her to school. Or, it might mean cutting your own food while you eat (if you’re the one receiving orthodontic care). As a result, you can use your back teeth to break the food down instead of biting into food with front teeth to break it apart.

Question: What can I do about cleaning food out from between my braces when it does end up there?

Answer: As you may have noticed, it’s not as easy to remove food when you’re wearing brackets and wires. Initially, that is. When you get used to gently maneuvering a soft-bristle toothbrush around your brackets and using threaders to slip floss through, you’ll see that it becomes second nature.

Question: What if something is stuck but I cannot seem to dislodge it? Should I just try to find a way?

Answer: No. Never reach for anything other than dental floss and your brush (or overdo either of these). When the usual approach fails, contact us. We would much rather remove the food on your behalf!

Riverside Dental Group and Dental Associate Offices Serves a Community Near You!

Our dentists look forward to caring for you and every member of your family with a comprehensive selection of services. We will maintain and improve your oral health with a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, restorative, implant, and emergency dentistry techniques. We also specialize in endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and orthodontics, serving patients from Riverside, Temecula, Moreno Valley, Corona, and all surrounding California communities. To schedule an appointment, contact one of the following locations nearest to you:

Riverside Dental Group at Magnolia in Riverside, CA at (951) 689-5031.

Dental Associates of Moreno Valley in Moreno Valley, CA at (951) 697-6800.

Riverside Dental Group at Woodcrest in Riverside, CA at (951) 776-9001.

Oasis Family Dental in Temecula, CA at (951) 695-2290.

Dental Associates of Riverside in Riverside, CA at (951) 369-1001.

Dental Associates of Corona in Corona, CA at (951) 273-9580.