Brushing with Braces: Keeping Your Teeth Clean
Those with brand new braces will have to go through several changes to maintain good oral hygiene. You may have to keep away from certain types of food and see your orthodontist more often than usual. So, you may ask, do I have to brush my teeth any different now that I have braces? The answer is yes! Braces can make cleaning your teeth more difficult, but it is even more important to keep your teeth healthy and clean while you have braces.
Covered in metal brackets, your teeth are now especially vulnerable to buildup of plaque and food debris in all the nooks and crannies difficult to reach while brushing your teeth. These accumulations allow germs to thrive and produce acids that dissolve enamel and even your braces’ brackets. The dangerous buildup of plaque can be avoided if you clean your braces well and often.
A Daily Habit
Keeping your teeth and braces clean and free of debris can be an involved task. While ideally you should brush your teeth after every meal throughout the day, life often gets in the way and you may not be able to brush your teeth thoroughly in the middle of the day. Instead, try flushing out your mouth with water to dislodge any lingering food. You should get into a habit of brushing twice a day, at morning and at night, and flossing once a day after your last meal. With these habits, you can get your mouth clean after the day’s meals and floss out the stubborn bits of food that are left behind before bed. This may seem like a lot of work, but good oral hygiene will make the job easier as time goes on.
How to Clean your Teeth and Braces
Because cleaning your braces is a special job, special equipment is required for the best results. The standard tools for keeping your braces clean are a high-quality toothbrush with soft bristles, floss and interdental cleaners, and an at-home oral irrigation system.
Begin by flossing. Getting around your brackets can be tricky, so use a floss threader or pick to get to the hard-to-reach places. Make sure to clean the gum line, as it is a hot spot for bacteria that can cause gum diseases and enamel damage. Interdental cleaners are helpful when getting in between the wires and brackets. Their small bristles can help get even the toughest bits and pieces out from your wires. To brush your teeth, first remove any elastics, then brush at a 45-degree angle to get your gum line and the tops and bottoms of your brackets.
An oral irrigation system is a specialized tool to clean out your mouth with a thin stream of water, to flush out your braces and teeth. After brushing, rinse your mouth to cleanse it of any plaque or acidic material from food out of the hard-to-reach places.
To further protect your teeth from damage as you wear braces, you may have to invest in toothpaste for sensitive teeth if you experience pain or discomfort while thoroughly cleaning your teeth. New toothbrushes are usually required more when wearing braces as the bristles can be worn down quickly by the metal.
Keeping up with oral hygiene is incredibly important to ensure that your braces create a beautiful and healthy smile. Alongside your own routines, make sure to come into Sequence Orthodontics regularly to get your scheduled adjustments and cleanings. Stop by one of our offices conveniently located in Wadolrf and Leonardtown, MA, or contact us to schedule your next appointment today!
