Braces Care 101: Tips for Maintaining Oral Health During Treatment
- July 19, 2024
- Posted by: Dr. Alan Wong
- Category: Braces
You already know that maintaining good oral hygiene is essential. However, when you have braces, it’s even more crucial. This is because if you don’t keep up with your oral hygiene while wearing braces, you may encounter problems like tooth decay or gum disease.
We understand that keeping your teeth clean with braces on can be challenging due to the brackets and wires where plaque and food particles can accumulate. Let’s look at some tips that will make it easier for you to keep your teeth clean and healthy even when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.
How To Maintain Your Oral Health With Braces
Brushing Techniques
Brush after every meal or at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, as it’s gentler and will help prevent damage to your braces. You can also use an electric toothbrush, as it’s very effective at removing plaque and food particles around the brackets and wires.
When you’re brushing your teeth, be sure to brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline and below the brackets. This angle allows the bristles to reach both above and below the brackets, ensuring a thorough clean. Use circular motions to clean each tooth individually, paying extra attention to the areas around your brackets and wires.
Flossing with Braces
When you have braces on, you must floss at least once daily to remove food stuck between your teeth or wires. It may be harder to floss with braces, so to do it effectively, you’ll need to use a floss threader to help guide the floss under the wire of your braces. Alternatively, you can use waxed floss, which is less likely to snag on your braces and can slide more easily between your teeth.
Pay extra attention to flossing between each tooth and along the gumline when flossing. Gently guide the floss between your teeth to remove plaque and food particles. Be sure to floss all the way up to the gumline, as this is where plaque often accumulates.
Additional Oral Hygiene Tools
Interdental Brushes
These brushes are small and meant to clean the spaces between your teeth and all around your braces, effectively removing plaque and food particles.
Water Flosser or Oral Irrigator
A water flosser is a special device that uses a stream of water to remove plaque and food from your teeth and braces. As braces can be hard to clean, water flossers are particularly helpful since they help you reach areas that are difficult to clean with traditional flossing.
Antimicrobial Mouthrinse
An antimicrobial mouthrinse can be a helpful addition to your oral hygiene routine when you have braces. Its ingredients help kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Using it after brushing and flossing can help reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Make a Commitment to Your Oral Hygiene Routine
It may be more challenging to brush and floss when you have braces, and it may take more time to do so. However, you must not neglect your oral hygiene routine. In fact, it’s more important now than ever to brush and floss properly and consistently if you don’t want to suffer from other oral health problems. Continue prioritizing your oral health and committing to a thorough hygiene routine, and you’ll be on your way to achieving a healthy smile that you’ll be proud of.
Dr. Alan Wong is a dedicated orthodontist who loves helping his patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. He is committed to providing gentle, effective care in a patient-centered environment. Dr. Wong is also a strong believer in continuing education, so he can provide his patients with the latest and greatest treatment options.