If you have braces, it is critically important that you take good care of them and your teeth. The reality is that braces to make food that little harder to eat. Most notably, they fill the mouth with little gaps and nooks that can “trap” food, which in turn causes plaque and can lead to other dental problems.
So how do I care for my teeth with braces on?
You won’t need to do that much differently when you’ve got braces on. You should still brush your teeth immediately after you eat (not just meals, but snacks as well). Additionally, rinse the mouth with mouthwash after every brush and then, once per day, floss your teeth as well.
That can all seem like a tedious process, but in addition to preventing further dental issues, committing to this oral health regime will help when it comes time to take those braces off – the area under the braces (which has been protected by the braces from coming into contact with food) will not be a different colour to the food-stained teeth.
The process
When brushing, the first thing to do is remove the elastics or any other removable part of your braces. Then, clean the braces themselves at all angles, top to bottom – you don’t want food on the braces themselves any more than you do on your teeth.
Next, brush the teeth themselves. Finally, floss, rinse, and quickly check your teeth and braces for anything that looks unusual that you might want your dentist to look at.
Special equipment?
Using a conventional brush and toothpaste can be more unwieldy than it’s worth. There are toothbrushes and toothbrush heads that are specifically designed for braces. Or, alternatively, simply find a small headed toothbrush – the more manoeuvrability that you have, the better the results, and a small headed toothbrush isn’t going to be as limited by the metal of the braces. It’s also possible to get “threader floss”, which is more manoeuvrable around the wires of the braces.
Despite the availability of special equipment, you can still get by with standard dental care products. Just be prepared that with braces it will take longer to clean your teeth, but you should still be more vigilant.
For more advice on keeping your teeth clean while wearing braces, or any other dental concerns that you might have, contact the friendly team at Parra Dental today on 9633-9835.