Bad Breath Post-Braces
I’ve written about the bad breath that comes with having braces. It’s harder to floss, stuff gets caught in and under and around the wires and brackets, and that orthodontic wax that prevents rubbing is a bad breath bacteria 5 star hotel. The great new – got my braces off six days before my birthday. What a great birthday present!
Has my bad breath disappeared? Oh no, not at all. Now I am the proud owner of retainers that I am to wear 24/7 for the next year except for when I eat. Retainers come in two different types. One is clear plastic that encloses your teeth – one for the upper teeth and one for the bottom teeth. The other has a wire that goes on the front side of the teeth and attaches to a plastic piece on the back. Both are great places for anaerobic bacteria to set up housekeeping. We’ve said again and again that a person can’t really tell if he has bad breath. I take that back. When I wake up in the morning, even I can’t stand to be around myself. Yuck!! My toothbrush is my friend.
The great things about getting my braces off: straight teeth. They look so white without all that metal all over them! And I love flossing. It is SO easy. No sympathy here for people who can’t be bothered with this cornerstone of a good oral hygiene program.
