With braces, navigating the realm of dental hygiene can be challenging. Food particles prefer to hide in the many crevices and nooks introduced by those straightening tools. But it’s crucial to keep up proper oral hygiene when wearing braces. Nobody wants to take off their braces only to discover discolored or decaying teeth. Let’s explore how to maintain a beautiful, healthy smile while wearing braces.
1. Brush, Brush, Brush!
Even while everyone should brush twice a day, if you have braces you might want to brush right after every meal. Here’s why:
- Food Particles: Braces make it easier to catch food. These particles can cause stains or cavities if they are not promptly removed.
- Technique is important. To clean around your braces’ wires and pins, tilt your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle when brushing. To prevent harming your gums or your braces, use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
2. Floss Daily
With braces, flossing may seem challenging, but it’s necessary to reach those hard-to-reach places.
- Floss threaders are useful gadgets that can be used to thread floss through the wires of your braces.
- Orthodontic Flossers: Made specifically for people wearing braces, these flossers make the job easier.
Remember, flossing helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach.
3. Use a Mouth Rinse
Your oral hygiene practice may benefit from the use of an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash.
- Mouthwash with an antimicrobial agent: Helps decrease bacteria and can treat foul breath.
- Fluoride Rinse: Strengthens teeth and guards against future cavities.
4. Purchase a Proxabrush or Interdental Brush.
This tiny brush, which looks like a little Christmas tree, is used to clean around wires and brackets. To avoid causing any harm, handle it lightly.
5. Routine Dental Exams
Regular dental checkups are just as important as the routine orthodontic examinations your orthodontist will do on your braces. Every six months, have a professional clean your teeth to ensure that any plaque or tartar buildup is eliminated.
6. Take a Water Flosser Into Account
A water flosser, also referred to as an oral irrigator, can be a very useful appliance for those wearing braces. It cleans braces and the spaces between teeth with a pressurized spray of water. It’s a great addition to traditional floss.
7. Watch What You Eat
Certain meals can be harmful to oral health and braces:
- Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods: Hard candies, gum, popcorn, nuts, caramel, gum, and gum can all become stuck in your braces or possibly harm them.
- Limit sugary foods and beverages because they can make cavities more likely, especially if you have braces because cleaning might be more difficult.
8. Use orthodontic wax
Sometimes, mouth sores or irritation are brought on by braces. To make the troublesome bracket or wire more comfortable and to stop future aggravation, orthodontic wax can be applied. Even if it has nothing to do with cleanliness, having a comfortable mouth makes it simpler to practice excellent oral hygiene.
Products Suitable for Use
- Fluoride helps to prevent cavities by fortifying the enamel. Whitening toothpastes should be avoided, though, as they may result in uneven pigmentation when your braces are taken off.
- Soft-bristled toothbrushes are good at cleaning in and around braces while being kind to your gums.
- As was already noted, fluoride mouthwash can provide an additional layer of protection against cavities.
- The floss threaders, interdental brushes, and mirrors that are frequently included in orthodontic kits are useful for those who wear braces.
Maintaining Dental Health During Your Braces Journey
Although wearing braces is only a brief step in your dental journey, the habits you develop during this time could last a lifetime. You can safeguard your investment in a gorgeous smile and build the groundwork for ongoing dental health by practicing attentive oral hygiene. Although wearing braces might be difficult, with the appropriate methods and perseverance, success is possible!
