Do you want to keep your bright smile while wearing braces? Braces help with correcting gapped, crowded, or rotated teeth. They are not only improving the aesthetics but are also helping with digestion and speech. At times they are the preventative measures taken to prevent gum diseases and tooth decay. Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces will help you achieve the desired results from the treatment.
Neglecting the braces care routine will complicate oral health and prolong the treatment. Braces come with brackets and wires that can trap tiny food particles, and other debris making it hard to clean every corner. However, a consistent routine that includes brushing, flossing, professional cleaning, and a good diet will help you prevent all these problems.
Let’s see how to have clean teeth with braces with some orthodontic hygiene tips!
The Importance of Oral Hygiene with Braces
Braces should not push your oral hygiene to a lower priority. Braces oral care does not differ from regular oral hygiene routine. This just needs more attention and care because of the small spaces and corners where the food or other debris could get stuck. Dental health with braces need not be complicated, but should rather be thorough.
Cavities are a common concern with braces. A decayed tooth will result in a cavity. This is due to the sugar that builds up either due to inefficient cleaning or having food that contains high sugar. Cavities are spread from one person to another through close contact because of bacterial transfer.
Braces increase the risk of plaque buildup, tooth decay, gum diseases, and bad breath. Orthodontic care from your dentists could address and tackle all these issues. You need to thoroughly track your oral health and hygiene, through regular check-ups, a good routine, and professional cleaning. Without proper care, preventing plaque buildup and tooth decay is hard.
For the best outcome from the treatment and good oral health, it is important to be dedicated.
Daily Brushing Routine for Braces
Brushing with braces becomes important to prevent plaque and tartar buildup, cavities, swollen and infected gums, and permanent teeth staining.
A proper brushing technique for braces includes:
- Use an orthodontic toothbrush or ultra-soft bristle toothbrush. These are known to be the best toothbrushes for braces.
- Take a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the brush
- Clean both on top and below your braces with light pressure.
- Brush each tooth for 10 seconds.
- There should be no food particles or plaque left behind.
Brushing your teeth after every meal is important. But wait for 30 minutes after eating to let the acids in your mouth neutralize before brushing. Drink water and rinse your mouth thoroughly soon after, if you cannot brush your teeth. Floor these brushing tips for orthodontics for a healthy smile.
The Role of Flossing with Braces
Flossing becomes harder with braces. We have floss threaders, interdental brushes, and water flossers for braces. These tools make flossing easier when compared to traditional flossing. Floss threaders guide the floss with a plastic needle, and interdental brushes reach the tiny spaces with their angled tiny bristles cleaning the braces. Water flossers are devices that make flossing super simple as they use a pressurized water jet to clean the teeth.
Here are a few orthodontic flossing tips:
- Floss every night after brushing.
- Make sure to get all the stuck food and plaque.
- Use a floss threader to guide the floss under the wire by making a C-shape.
- Make sure to floss both sides of the tooth reaching to the gums.
Mouthwash and Its Benefits
Mouthwash is used after brushing and flossing to remove any food particles stuck between your teeth. They are not a substitute for your routine. The stuck food particles could lead to gum diseases, plaque buildup, tooth decay, and bad breath. This is where mouthwash helps by reaching all the small spaces and preventing potential oral problems.
Antibacterial mouthwashes are used to reduce the chances of cavities and plaque buildup. Always opt for mouthwashes that have no alcohol because alcohol could irritate the teeth and gums become sensitive during the treatment. Fluoride rinse or mouthwash with fluoride is great for strengthening the enamel against tooth decay. Whitening mouthwashes leave discolored spots when your braces come off for which they are advised not to be used.
Diet Tips for Maintaining Oral Hygiene
The braces make it necessary to have a healthy diet. It is essential to have braces-friendly diets that are soft and easy to eat by not getting stuck in your teeth. The chewy, hard, and sticky foods are difficult to eat making them not suitable to have with braces.
Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, steamed vegetables, mashed potato, soups, and some soft fruits are some of the healthy foods for braces. Some of the foods to avoid with braces are chewing gum, candy, bagels, chips, pretzels, and crunchy raw vegetables. Limiting the intake of sugar and desserts is suggested as they could cause cavities. There are some spicy foods and citrus fruits to avoid right after the appointment until you ease into the braces. These are some of the diet tips for orthodontic care to have a successful treatment.
BU Orthodontics – What to Eat When You Have Braces
Regular Dental Visits and Professional Cleanings
Routine orthodontic care becomes important with braces to keep track of the treatment. The extra spaces and corners due to brackets and wires could lead to oral complications if the food and other particles are stuck between them. This makes it important to follow your dentist’s suggestion on orthodontic cleaning.
The dental checkups with braces ensure the treatment is on track, that your teeth are aligned as planned, any signs of infections or diseases, or any oral health concerns. Your orthodontists might suggest a professional dental cleaning after a routine checkup. This is because even with diligent brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up around your braces. These clean-ups target heard-to-reach areas.
Managing Common Issues: Soreness and Braces Damage
Dealing with Soreness After Adjustments
If you feel soreness or tenderness in your teeth and gums after the routine follow-up, it is common. The pressure increases between your teeth when the dentist pulls and tightens the braces leading to pain and discomfort. Here are a few soreness relief tips for managing braces discomfort :
- Use ice packs in the area of discomfort, as it helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Do not overwork your teeth and gums with a hard chewy meal.
- Apply orthodontic wax on brackets and wires for a smooth barrier avoiding irritation.
- Rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water to reduce swelling and soothe sore spots.
- Take a mild over-the-counter pain-killer if the pain persists after a discussion with your dentist.
- If your orthodontic surgeon suggests, apply oral anesthetic gels directly on the painful teeth and gum areas.
Repairing Broken Braces
There is a chance of broken brackets, loose wires, or any other orthodontic emergencies by accident. If you face these issues it is better to address them promptly to prevent any complications or delay.
If your bracket is broken, leave it in place if it is not completely out. Use the orthodontic wax on top to stop any irritation. But if the bracket is completely out, it is better to store it. If the braces wire is poking out causing discomfort, use a sterile clipper to trim the end or use wax to protect your cheeks and gums. Use clean tweezers to readjust the wire back to place if it is shifted.
It is always important to contact your orthodontist immediately for serious emergencies. It is better not to hold back if you have severe pain and swelling, the wire is stuck to your gums or cheeks, or you simply cannot adjust the wire back to its position.
Conclusion
Braces are a step towards achieving that bright smile. Their results depend on your oral hygiene. It decides how long the treatment takes, and how healthy your teeth will look after the braces removal. Make sure to brush diligently and floss between all your teeth. Using mouthwash would simplify your cleaning process and the fluoride ones strengthen your teeth. Discuss with your dentist about the orthodontic care routine, braces oral hygiene tips, and also the professional cleaning schedule.
We at Ridge Oral Surgery give you the best orthodontic experience with our expert advice made just for you. We provide quality oral care for every patient with 24-hour on-call access for 6 days a week. We guide you through your braces journey by maintaining braces hygiene. Ridge Oral Surgery is where you get a healthy smile with braces.
Need expert advice on maintaining oral hygiene with braces? Contact Ridge Oral Surgery today to schedule a consultation and ensure your smile stays healthy throughout your orthodontic journey.