If you just got your braces, you’re probably wondering the best way to keep your teeth clean. Oral hygiene with braces may seem overwhelming, but it’s not as hard as you may think. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your teeth and braces in tip-top shape.
- Evaluate Your Toothbrushing Technique
- Floss Every Day
- Rinse Every Day
- Consume a Braces-Friendly Diet
- Keep Up with Your Biannual Dental Visits
You may find that getting your teeth clean with a standard toothbrush is more difficult than it was before you had braces. Consider using an electric toothbrush and an interdental toothbrush, a toothbrush specially-designed for cleaning in between teeth and braces. You’ll want to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time using a fluoridated toothpaste to avoid decay, gum disease, and having unsightly stains after your braces are removed.
Flossing is critical with or without braces. But with braces, food is more likely to get trapped around your teeth. Flossing with braces takes a little extra patience, but it is worth it for improved oral health. You can use floss-threaders to thread traditional string floss around your wires. Or, invest in a water flosser to easily and efficiently clean out particles from between your teeth in just 60 to 90 seconds.
The areas around your braces are prone to accumulating food particles and yucky plaque. Swish and gargle with an alcohol-free antibacterial/antiplaque mouthwash after brushing and flossing to help keep your teeth healthy and decrease bad breath.
With braces, be extra careful about foods and drinks that can stain your visible tooth enamel. Limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar, starch, and acid. Moreover, prevent unnecessary expenses and delays in treatment by keeping your braces hardware in good condition. Avoid chewing gum and foods such as caramel, hard candy, and sticky candy, and biting into corn on the cob and whole apples.
Come see us every six months for a professional dental cleaning and checkup to confirm your teeth are healthy and strong. We can answer any additional questions about keeping your teeth clean with braces and offer tips to improve your oral hygiene routine. Contact our Leesburg Family Dental team to schedule your next appointment today!
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