How to Properly Brush Your Teeth With Braces?
Maintaining good oral health and proper hygiene during your time with orthodontic treatment is incredibly important. Not only does keeping your mouth clean allow you to finish your braces or Invisalign treatment in the designated time, but it prevents you from needing more treatment along the way or at the end of the procedure.
If patients neglect their oral health, they will eventually develop cavities and gum infections which, in turn, can lead to more severe dental issues that may require the complete pause of the orthodontic treatment. Complete tooth loss makes your orthodontist re-evaluate the goals established for your treatment, while very severe gum disease can prevent you from getting braces completely.
To have the best possible experience while wearing braces, you’ll need to brush and floss your teeth properly every day during the entirety of the treatment. Here are a few tips on how to keep your teeth and braces clean.
How to Brush With Braces?
If you just got your orthodontics and are wondering how to brush your teeth with braces, then we have great news for you, it’s not as hard as you may think.
Start by removing any elastics from your braces and grab your soft-bristled toothbrush. Angle the brush at 45°, place it over your brackets at the gum line and start brushing. After cleaning the gumline, proceed to brush the brackets. Place the brush on top of the bracket and then angle your toothbrush as necessary to get all four sides. Be careful not to apply too much pressure when you are directly on top of the bracket to avoid breaking the archwire.
Remember that experts recommend brushing your teeth for at least two minutes, so make sure to concentrate on each tooth for a couple of seconds at least.
How to Floss With Braces?
While many people know how to floss properly, many of them don’t know how to floss with braces on. The added difficulty that braces represent can be discouraging for patients, making them skip the tricky places or just stop flossing altogether.
Fortunately, there are a few tools available that make the whole process much simpler. Floss threaders are incredibly helpful in getting the floss under the metal wire, allowing you to then pass the thread in between your teeth and clean the interdental space. You’ll have to pass a floss thread between every pair of teeth and hug both sides each time to make sure you remove all the trapped food particles.
What Else Can I Do to Thoroughly Clean My Teeth While Wearing Braces?
Here are a few alternative ways to maintain your teeth clean and healthy while wearing adult orthodontics.
Interdental Brush
Interdental brushes have a cone-shaped head of soft bristles attached to a flexible metal wire to help remove bacteria and food residues from the little crevices between teeth. Given their flexibility and their toothbrush-like handle, they are very easy to use and have the same results, if not better than regular flossing has.
Mouthwash
Consider adding mouthwash to your cleaning routine to help eliminate the bacteria left in your mouth. Similarly to toothpaste, you should look for mouthwash that has fluoride in it. Fluoride eliminates bacteria and helps protect the other layer of your teeth, the enamel.
If you are already using fluoride toothpaste, however, consult with your orthodontist before adding another fluoride product to the mix.
Food Choice
At the beginning of your treatment, your orthodontist will talk to you about a diet that you need to follow to both keep your appliances in good condition and to reduce the risk of cavities and infections as much as possible.
Given that hard or sticky foods can cause damage to your appliances is best to avoid them completely. Additionally, you should also avoid sugary foods. When sugar interacts with the saliva and bacteria in your mouth, it transforms into plaque, which, if left undisturbed, can erode the enamel from your teeth and lead to cavities and gum disease.
How to Keep My Teeth Clean With Clear Aligners
Invisalign and clear aligners make keeping good oral health during orthodontic treatment a piece of cake. Their removable nature allows patients to brush and floss their teeth without any obstacles in the way. You’ll just have to remove the aligners before every meal and wash them thoroughly before putting them back on. Aside from that, you’ll only have to worry about brushing as usual at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Make sure you also know how to keep your Invisalign clean to avoid any dental health problems.
Maintain Your Oral Health With Us
If you need a dental check-up or have any questions regarding oral health and proper dental hygiene during orthodontic treatment, contact us here at Onshore Orthodontics.