If you just got your braces and are listing out the foods you can eat, you might come across enchiladas. The mouth-watering corn tortilla covered with a savory sauce. Should this irresistible Mexican dish be on that list? Is it safe to eat enchiladas with braces?
Can you eat enchiladas with braces?
Yes, you can eat enchiladas with braces on, so long as you cut them into smaller bite-sized pieces and avoid pulling at them with your teeth. Be sure to clean your teeth and braces with the tips mentioned in the next section to prevent bad odor.
Tips to keep your braces clean after eating enchiladas
While getting braces will give you a gorgeous smile, it’s vital to maintain that smile for the long term.
Prompt and thorough oral hygiene is a need during the orthodontic treatment procedure. Braces increase the probability of plaque formation because the brackets and wires trap enchiladas particles and create a shelf around the exterior of teeth, making them difficult to clean.
Plaque may discolor teeth and wear away tooth enamel. Follow these steps to maintain your teeth in tip-top form.
For best results, brush with a softer toothbrush
You must clean the area above your brackets and between your teeth and gums. When brushing your teeth, ensure the bristles of your toothbrush come into contact with your gums to get the best results. To avoid bruising the gums, use a toothbrush with softer bristles and hold it at an angle.
Brush after every meal
Plaque may be prevented with regular brushing. Carrying a travel toothbrush is highly recommended. If you don’t have access to one, rinse your mouth for 30-seconds to remove any loose enchilada particles.
You should wait 30 minutes to an hour before brushing after consuming foods like oranges or sports drinks since doing so might erode tooth enamel.
Use only a small amount of toothpaste.
The foam formed by toothpaste might make it more difficult to notice plaque and enchiladas particles. Start brushing your teeth with only a moist toothbrush, which will allow you to clean around the brackets and between wires. A precise plucking action is preferred over scrubbing. Then, add a pea-sized quantity of toothpaste and continue scrubbing.
Brush your teeth for two minutes. Take 30 seconds to focus on your mouth’s right, left, upper, and lower sides. Clean both the exterior and interior surfaces of teeth. Make sure you brush for the whole two minutes by setting a timer. This will remove any enchiladas particles stuck closer to your brace’s brackets and wire.
Use a Waterpik or a floss threader. One of the toughest components of teeth care in braces is flossing. Making it easy to thread the floss through the wire is accomplished by tying a threader to the floss. Move your toothbrush in a sawing motion to get rid of even more plaque.
A Waterpik water flosser may also be an option to explore. It cleanses with a water spray and is a quick, uncomplicated method to floss.
Clean with mouthwash at night
Look for an anti-cavity, fluoride mouthwash that helps minimize tooth decay and protect enamel. One minute of rinsing should be sufficient to remove any leftover dirt. After rinsing, look in the mirror to ensure you didn’t miss any enchilada particles.
Conclusion:
Eating enchiladas with braces on is okay as long as you don’t pull at them with your teeth and, follow the oral hygiene steps mentioned in this article to prevent your mouth from smelling.
