Rancho Cucamonga Dentists state that oral hygiene is more important now than ever when braces are in place.
If not properly removed, brackets and rubber bands can become hiding places for food debris or plaque.
Patients who choose to have their teeth cleaned by a dentist will remove their rubber bands and wires. They will then focus on the areas near brackets, which are often more common.
I provide braces care tips to my patients and help them understand how to maintain their teeth and reduce the chance of staining and cavities through treatment.
Read on if you wear braces.
Braces for Cleaning Teeth
Rancho Cucamonga Dentists suggest that braces patients should be more mindful of how much they eat during the day.
Many dentist recommend cleaning your teeth after every meal, but at least three times per day.
After a meal, if you are unable to brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with water. This will help to remove larger food particles. Soon you will be able to brush.
Brackets and wires make it more difficult to brush your teeth and can also take longer.
Patients should bulge their cleaning for 3 minutes, instead of the usual 2. It takes more effort and takes longer to reach all brackets.
To maintain braces, it is important not to press too hard on your teeth when brushing.
How to Floss with Braces
Rancho Cucamonga Dentists suggest a few pieces of equipment that can be used to floss and brush braces.
Make sure to choose the toothbrush and floss that’s most suitable for you, and one that you can use every day.
Cleaning
A soft toothbrush can make brushing easier. Turn it upside down, and continue straight down.
You can use a water flosser to get rid of all the debris around your braces.
Waterpik. This can be used to rinse hard-to reach places.
Interproximal brushes (or proxy brushes) are great for quick cleaning if you don’t have the time to floss and brush after meals. The tapered end of the brush can be used to slide underneath your brackets and remove plaque. Be careful not to loosen the brackets while you apply it.
To protect your enamel and strengthen your teeth, make sure you use toothpaste that contains fluoride. To avoid making your teeth appear different colors when you remove braces, it is best to stay clear of whitening toothpaste.
Flossing
Platypus Ortho floss is a favorite of braces patients. You can thread it outside and only one side of the floss is flat. It can be pushed under the brackets to clean it quickly. Plackers Dental Flossers can also be a great tool. They provide the same function.
Superfloss floss has a stiffer end which is easy to slide under braces cables. Once it is below your cable, you can use the spongey portion in the middle to clean around brackets. Regular floss can be used on the limit to remove plaque below the gumline (includes regular floss).
A floss threader makes flossing with braces much easier. Insert regular dental floss into the oval end of your floss threader and then use the pointed end to slide it beneath your wire. Once the threader is securely under your cable, you can take it out and continue to apply floss as usual (repeat this process between all teeth).
To protect your enamel and strengthen your teeth, apply a mouthwash once a day.
Look at the active ingredients before you choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride but not alcohol.
Drinking alcohol can dry your mouth, reduce saliva flow, cause bad breath, and even lead to cavities.
Take Care of Braces
Follow these guidelines to keep your braces in top shape.
Your treatment will be more complicated if your brackets are more broken.
Call your orthodontist immediately if you break a bracket. This will ensure that teeth don’t start to move and prevents you from losing any progress you’ve made.
A superior oral hygiene routine with tools and care will make braces treatment more efficient.