Traditional metal braces are an excellent way to address mild to severe dental misalignments such as gaps, crowding, underbites, overbites, open bites, and crossbites, but they involve a significant investment of time and effort on the part of the patient. Proper oral hygiene is one of the most important parts of a successful orthodontic treatment, and keeping braces clean requires a few special measures. Here’s a quick guide to how brush and floss your teeth while wearing braces.
Brushing Around Braces
You’ll still need to brush your teeth regularly when wearing braces, but there are a few special guidelines to keep in mind when doing so. These include:
- Brush in the morning, before going to bed, and between meals
- Carefully brush the outer surfaces of each tooth (front, top, and back) for at least thirty seconds
- Take special care to brush gently around the brackets and under the wires while thoroughly cleaning your teeth
- Use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching your enamel
Threading Your Floss
Flossing is equally important to brushing when it comes to preserving your oral health, and it’s still crucial to perform this task every day when wearing braces. A few tips to keep in mind include:
- Floss at least once a day, but it’s even better to floss between meals as well
- Invest in specialized threader floss or floss threaders to help you slide the strand beneath your wires and between your teeth
- Carefully move the floss up-and-down and side-to-side against the edge of either tooth of each pair while avoiding sliding the thread too deep against the root of the tooth, which can cause gum damage.
Cleaning Your Components with an Interdental Brush
Interdental brushes differ from toothbrushes in that their bristles are arranged in the shape of a cone rather than emerging from one flat surface, and they are incredibly useful for cleaning between your brackets and under your wires. Gently insert the brush into the space between two brackets and carefully work it up and down to safely scrape away food debris. Interdental brushes typically come with a few replacement heads, so switch to a new one when the old one begins to appear unclean and worn out after a few uses.
Proper hygiene is an excellent way to keep your teeth healthy and your orthodontic treatment on track. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best ways to care for your smile while wearing braces.
About the Practice
Serenity Orthodontics delivers outstanding smile-straightening services to the community of Cumming. With Drs. Susan Podray-Donovan, Kylie Lewis, and Karolina Grochowska in charge, the staff shows each patient unrivaled courtesy and compassion while maintaining a clean and welcoming office. Areas of expertise include traditional braces as well as Invisalign and orthodontic emergency services. To learn more about proper care and maintenance for your orthodontic appliances, contact the Braselton office online or dial (678) 879-3006.