Braces will give you a gorgeous smile, but it’s just as vital to keep that smile healthy. Proper teeth care an important aspect of orthodontic treatment. Braces promote plaque accumulation because the brackets and wires trap food debris from hot dogs and create a shelf around the exterior of the teeth, making it more difficult to clean. Plaque may discolour teeth and erode tooth enamel. Keep your teeth in good health by following these guidelines provided by Instador.
- Make use of a gentle toothbrush. It’s critical to keep the upper section of your teeth clean between your brackets and gums. To clean the enamel correctly, the toothbrush bristles must contact the gums. To prevent irritating gums, use a brush with softer bristles and aim it toward them.
- After every meal, brush your teeth. The brace wires catch food debris, and cleaning often will help prevent plaque. A travel toothbrush is recommended. If you don’t have one, rinse for 30 seconds with water. Brushing after acidic meals is an exception. After consuming foods like oranges or sports drinks, you should wait 30 minutes to an hour before cleaning your teeth to avoid softening the enamel.
- Use only a small amount of toothpaste. Toothpaste foam might make it more difficult to notice plaque and dirt. Start cleaning your teeth with a moist toothbrush to go around the brackets and between the wires. Rather than scrubbing, employ a fine-toothed picking motion. After that, use a pea-sized quantity of toothpaste and clean as usual.
- Brush your teeth twice a day for a total of two minutes. Spend 30 seconds on the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left parts of your mouth. Clean both the outside and inside of your teeth. Set a timer to ensure that you brush for the entire two minutes.
- Use a floss threader or a Waterpik to do this. Flossing is one of the most difficult aspects of teeth care when wearing braces. It will be easier to guide the floss through the wire if you tie it to a threader. To get rid of even more plaque, use a sawing motion. Also, think about getting a Waterpik water flosser. It flosses quickly and easily with a stream of water.
- At night, rinse your mouth with mouthwash. Look for a fluoride mouthwash with anti-cavity properties to help prevent tooth decay and protect enamel. A one-minute rinse can help remove any leftover particles. After rinsing, look in the mirror to see if you’ve missed anything.
