How To Keep Hygiene When Wearing Braces

Invisalign

Braces system have been put on your teeth to make them nice-looking and straight. Good dental hygiene is crucial for people with braces. Brushing and flossing become even more important when wearing braces to prevent staining, plaque build-up, and decay. Accumulation of plaque during wearing braces due to the complexity of cleaning interdental spaces can lead to the undesirable development of cavities. It is very important to keep your gums and teeth free of plaque and clean while the braces are on. Dental plaque is a harmful layer of bacteria on the teeth. It can cause cavities. Without regular brushing, your teeth may break down and make braces alignment more complicated. Glendale orthodontist, Dr. Sahakyan, who has years of experience with successful braces and Invisalign treatments suggests the following care for braces.

How to Remove Plaque from the Teeth and Braces?

Plaque can be removed from the braces only mechanically. There are two methods:

  • The first method is the independent daily care of teeth and braces with a special toothbrush.
  • The second method is professional teeth cleaning with a dental hygienist. There are various professional methods of eliminating plaque, e.g., using the Air Flow method.

Three Rules to Follow with Braces Oral Care

Be extra careful with braces when brushing or flossing them. During the period of wearing braces, you must follow those three simple rules:

Rule 1: Carefully Monitor Oral Hygiene

You will have to brush your teeth after every meal, but you should be especially careful in the morning and in the evening.  

You should equip with special hygiene products: an orthodontic toothbrush with a V-shaped bristle. It perfectly cleans the bracket system. The floss will help to penetrate into the interdental spaces over the arches. The special interdental brushes clean the surfaces between the arches and teeth.

Also, do not neglect the importance of using special toothpaste and mouth rinses. Mouthwash that contains fluoride, may help to prevent tooth decay and strengthen the enamel of your teeth.

      Note: Instead of the usual brush, for the time of orthodontic treatment, you need to take a special toothbrush for braces. These brushes are better suited due to the fact that the bristles have V-shaped. This form of bristles allows you to better clean the structure without damaging the tooth enamel and gums.

The use of well-chosen tools will help to cope with the most common problems that may arise when wearing orthodontic structures.  

Rule 2: Flossing With Braces

dental care

Using a floss threader will let you insert the floss through the teeth and below or above the wire. This lets you clean effectively in between each tooth. Be assured not to snap the floss. Move it up and down softly against the side of each tooth.

Rule 3: Avoid Certain Foods

The braces system is fairly sturdy construction, but at the same time fragile. It can be easily damaged by enjoying all your favorite foods like popcorn, apples, nuts, and more.

Restrictions in nutrition are reduced to a ban not only on the consumption of hard food but also stretching foods that can get stuck in braces. The latter include buns, toffee, chewing gum, and other goodies. In addition, you should not drink hot tea or eat cold ice cream, as a sharp change in temperature violates the elasticity of orthodontic arcs.

If you do not want the braces to be colored, it is better to exclude berries, jam, coffee, and wine from the diet. Smoking is not recommended.

Rule 4: Regularly Visit the Glendale Dentist

At least every six months, be sure to carry out professional oral hygiene. Accumulation of plaque during wearing braces due to the complexity of cleaning interdental spaces can lead to the undesirable development of cavities. Home-based oral care products, do not guarantee one hundred percent preventive results necessary and sufficient to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Braces are the most effective means of correcting bites and straightening teeth. On average, braces will have to be worn for 1 – 2 years. The duration of wearing depends on the severity of the pathology and the age of the patient.

Unfortunately, not the Glendale dentist, Dr. Sahakyan nor any other dentist can speed up the process artificially, as it is based on natural mechanisms. In contrast, the patient can delay the treatment period. If those rules are not followed it can lead to unsuccessful bracing. If patients do not follow these instructions, the treatment also gets delayed. Please contact the best dentist in Glendale at Smile Makeover of LA to schedule an appointment today. For more information please call 1-818-578-2324.