After spending a fortune on braces, the last thing you want to do is break them. Unfortunately, it can be very easy to break the brackets off your braces, especially if you're not careful. Here are a few tips that will help you avoid breaking the brackets off your braces.

Watch Your Diet

The best thing you can do to avoid breaking your brackets is watching your diet. Overall, it's best to avoid all foods that are crunchy, sticky, and chewy. Foods that are sticky and chewy will likely get stuck onto the brackets, while crunchy foods can cause the brackets to snap or the wires of your braces to bend. Chips, taffy, gum, popcorn, and nuts are some of the foods you should make a conscious effort to avoid if you have braces and don't have the money to replace or repair them on a regular basis.

Instead of eating snack foods like popcorn and chips, you should opt for softer foods like cheese, mashed potatoes, deli meats, beans, pasta, and rice. By eating these foods, you will not only be able to avoid breaking the brackets off your braces, but you will also be able to avoid prolonging orthodontic treatment.

Change Your Habits

If you're like some people, you may have a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, especially when you're undergoing emotional distress. Unfortunately, this is a bad habit for people with braces as well as people without braces. If you're unsure as to whether you grind or clench your teeth on a regular basis, a sore jaw and a dull, constant headache is often a telltale sign. Eventually, teeth grinding can lead to the fracturing and loosening of teeth. In some cases, it can also lead to loss of teeth, as chronic grinding can wear down teeth to stumps. If you have braces, grinding and clenching your teeth can cause the brackets of your braces to loosen.

Some people grind or clench their teeth while they're sleeping. If you suspect that you're one of these people, you should consider wearing a dental night guard to protect your teeth.

After spending so much money braces, you definitely want to take care of them and keep them in good shape. As you can see, there are many things you can do to avoid breaking your braces. Follow the tips listed above and you likely won't ever have to get the brackets of your braces replaced or repaired.