If you have braces, congratulations! You’re on your way to the straight smile of your dreams. However, a mouthful of metal can often be a hassle to clean, leaving people susceptible to discoloration, yellowing, and tooth decay. Thankfully, your orthodontist knows some easy tips that will help you keep your smile clean and healthy. Keep reading to learn the best ways to clean your braces and keep your straight smile on track!
Why At-Home Oral Healthcare with Braces is Important
Without braces, plaque and bacteria can easily buildup on your teeth if you don’t practice a good at home brushing and flossing routine. However, when you have braces, the metal wires and brackets give plaque more of an opportunity to collect, putting your teeth and gums at risk for dental issues. Additionally, food getting caught in your braces can become a real problem, which is why it’s important to know how to maintain great oral health.
Brushing with Braces
Be prepared to spend a longer time brushing with orthodontics in Rochester than you would without. A clean smile is completely worth it—your teeth and gums will thank you. For a proper brushing technique, follow these key steps:
- Get ready: Take off elastics, bands, or any other removeable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
- Clean around your braces: Clean around the wires and pins.
- Carefully brush each wire: brush all the way around your upper and lower teeth.
- Brush your teeth: Be sure to brush your teeth for two minutes, which essentially means 30 seconds on each side of your smile.
- Rinse then check your teeth: Thoroughly rinse and then examine your teeth and braces in the mirror to check for lingering bits of food.
If you get food caught in your braces, it’s important to deal with it the right way. You can use an interdental brush—a special instrument to clean away tough to reach debris. Swishing your mouth with water can help as well.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing can be tough, but you’ll get used to it with these tips:
- Floss once a day: Use waxed floss to prevent shredding, and you can even find tools like a floss threader to make cleaning between your braces easier. Carefully thread your floss between teeth and under the main wire of your braces, gently moving it up and down.
- Use enough floss: Be sure to use about 18 inches of floss for a thorough cleaning.
- Avoid snapping floss: Move it up and down, gently against the side of each tooth to avoid breaking your floss.
Are you ready to clean your teeth with braces like a pro? Remember these useful tips to keep your smile healthy and happy all while you achieve beautiful alignment.
Meet the Orthodontist
Dr. Stan Drabik is an experienced orthodontist who has a passion for helping his patients both in and outside of his office. That’s why he wants you to know these tips for great oral healthcare with braces. For any questions, he can be reached through his website or by phone at his Webster or Rochester locations.