Braces and Dental Hygiene Braces are good for overall dental health as well as oral aesthetics. To maintain both of these, braces alone are not enough. You must also practice proper dental hygiene to keep your teeth looking nice and healthy. This article will cover the basics of how to care for your teeth with dental hygiene so that you can get the best smile possible.Here at Dr. Jeffrey Kashner Orthodontics, we care about your teeth and want all of our patients to receive the best care they can. Our team of dentists and orthodontists prioritize each patient and will work with you to keep your mouth healthy and clean. Continue reading to learn some of the basics of proper dental hygiene when you have braces. What Tools Will You Need?To properly clean your teeth when you have braces, you will mostly need the same tools and cleaning products that you would need without braces. A toothbrush is first and foremost, this will allow you to clean the spaces in between your teeth and the braces. Our dentists may recommend a special toothbrush with smaller bristles to get in between the tight cracks and crevices. If you are going to be using a toothbrush, then you will need toothpaste. You may want a toothpaste that has fluoride in it, but our dentists will give you the best option based on your oral health. It is also recommended that you use mouthwash to get in the small spaces that your toothbrush cannot access. If you are unsure of which mouthwash to use, just ask our dentists and they will let you know which brand will be the most effective for your mouth. The last tools you will need are floss and floss threaders. Floss threaders are little hoops that go in between the archwire and the teeth. Once the floss threader's hoop goes through the space in your teeth, loop some floss in the threader and pull it back through the space. This will make it easy for the floss to get between the archwire and the teeth. How Do You Properly Brush and Floss Your Teeth With Braces?Brushing your teeth with braces is very similar to brushing your teeth without braces, but you just have to be sure to get in the crevices of the braces as well. Using toothpaste, brush at an angle on both the top and bottom sides of the brackets and bands. Try your best to get between the archwire and the teeth to remove as many food particles as possible. If you can, avoid foods that will lodge particles in your teeth that are hard to remove like corn on the cob, gum, and brittle-like candies. If food particles do get lodged in hard-to-reach places, then use the floss and floss threader to get between the braces and the teeth. Also, use the floss to get between the teeth themselves to completely remove any food that may be stuck there. ConclusionBraces will help to make your teeth healthy and beautiful, but you also need to do your part to keep your teeth and braces clean. Leftover food particles and plaque build-up can lead to enamel erosion and eventually cause cavities. If you have any questions about how to properly care for your teeth and braces, call 253-630-3331 and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. |
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