Keeping your teeth clean while wearing braces can be difficult, but it’s more important during orthodontic treatment than ever before! Your braces make a great hiding spot for food particles, plaque buildup, and bacteria. Staying on top of your oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can help avoid dental cavities, gum disease, chronic bad breath, and discoloration of the teeth.
4 Tips for Keeping Teeth Clean While Wearing Braces
- Brush after each meal – When you’re wearing braces, we recommend brushing after each meal. The longer you let food particles build up around the brackets, the more damage the bacteria will do. If you can’t brush, at least try to rinse with water after meals!
- Clean one tooth at a time – When brushing while you have braces on, take your time and brush each individual tooth. We recommend spending 5-10 seconds on each tooth.
- Don’t forget to use fluoride – Always make sure to use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride helps prevent cavities, which is important to do during orthodontic treatment.
- Use a floss threader – Many of our patients have no trouble using regular floss, but others find it to be difficult. In these situations, we recommend using a floss threader, which can help you get floss through the braces and teeth.
If you’re having a difficult time keeping your teeth clean while wearing dental braces, please don’t hesitate to contact Garlock Orthodontics today. Our orthodontic office is located here in Aurora, Colorado.