Dental Care

Taking care of your braces will make it more effective in achieving their purpose.

Though braces are installed to help with teeth alignment issues, not taking care of braces might lead to the formation of plaque that leads to other dental problems. This is because braces have tiny spaces that trap food. Taking care of your braces will make you more effective in achieving their purpose besides making the treatment duration comfortable. Here are some tips for spring cleaning your braces:

• Flossing

Smaller food particles and plaque brought about by stuck food particles are removed through flossing. Using a flossing tape might be a little tricky, instead, you may need to use interdental brushes or floss threaders. Keep in mind that applying too much pressure while doing this could damage the braces. Should your brackets become loose due to too much pressure, schedule an appointment with an orthodontic immediately.

• Perfect your brushing technique

Brushing of teeth is imperative, but it is especially so if you are wearing braces: it is recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal if you have braces. For this reason, you might have to carry a tube of toothpaste and brush in your bag at all times. With the use of a toothbrush with soft bristles, brush the gum line while holding it at a plane angle. Once done, hold it downwards to brush the top of the brackets and upward to clean the bottom.

• Avoid eating certain foods

Some foods are off-limits as and when you wear braces. Though your orthodontist will provide you with a list of this, it generally includes anything sticky, crunchy and hard. Sugary foods and certain drinks could cause permanent stains around your brackets which remain once they are removed.

Getting a perfect smile is the expected result if one is wearing braces and as such, you should do everything possible to achieve this. Regular cleaning and flossing as well as ensuring that you will not eat foods that stick to them are simple and effective ways of doing this. Should you have any dental inquiries, get in touch with us.

Having braces is an exciting time in your life but can make for challenges in dental care for your teeth.

While you’re expectant of your future smile, you also need to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Though braces make your oral care routine more challenging, there are techniques and special tools you can use to keep your teeth clean and your breath minty-fresh.

1. Brush After Every Meal

It’s important to brush your teeth after every meal since food gets trapped more easily in braces. To boost your brushing routine, use special teeth pickers called “go-betweens” that can deep clean your brackets and wires.

2. Use a Waterpik

Technological advances have made good oral hygiene even easier to achieve. By shooting out small but powerful jets of water onto your teeth, the Waterpik makes touch-up tooth cleaning incredibly easy and fast. It works much like “go-betweens” to eliminate food from the brackets and wires before they can trap bacteria.

3. Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash can act as an added support to brushing and flossing. You should use some mouthwash after you brush your teeth, especially at night. This will help slow down bacteria growth as you sleep.

4. Floss After Every Meal

Braces require more frequent cleaning than teeth without them. For the best results, floss after every meal to prevent plaque and bacteria growth. Flossing when you have braces can be a tedious process, but specially-made flossers and floss threaders can make the process much easier.

Wishing You a Beautiful Smile

If you want to know more about caring for your braces or dental care for your teeth while wearing braces, consult our frequently asked questions. It’s also easy to schedule an appointment online anytime. We look forward to helping you achieve that smile you’ve always wanted!