Vital Tips On Brushing Teeth With Braces
Brushing teeth after getting braces can be pretty difficult. It can seem like a lot of work, given that you must take care of your teeth and the wires and brackets.
The fact is that having braces can make dental hygiene challenging to achieve because it takes more time and effort to remove food particles. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Below, we have a detailed guide with effective tips on how to brush your teeth with braces.
Floss Frequently
Flossing is a dental hygiene practice that most people ignore. However, it is vital because it helps remove food particles in parts the toothbrush cannot reach. When you add wires and brackets, the effectiveness of the toothbrush alone at cleaning your teeth becomes less, making flossing even more important. To make flossing easier, get a floss threader.
Brush Twice In Each Session
Generally, we brush our teeth once in a given session. However, this might not be sufficient when you have braces which is why you need to brush twice. Brush your teeth once, then repeat after a few minutes. The first time loosens up food particles in the wires and brackets, while the second one does the cleaning.
Practice Angular Brushing
Brush your teeth in down-up motions instead of the typical backward-forward manner to increase the contact between the teeth and the toothbrush. Angular brushing is more effective in removing food particles stuck in the braces.
Be Gentle
You may want to exert a little more pressure and be aggressive to remove the food stuck in the hardware. Even though this is understandable, it is not good because it can make the brackets lose. Instead, get a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles and brush gently.
Brush Your Tongue
The tongue harbors plenty of bacteria, and you should always brush it, whether you have braces or not. With braces, the bacteria in the tongue might go to the hardware compromising the effectiveness of your brushing. Therefore, you should always wash your tongue to avoid mouth odor.
Use Mouthwash
Most experts recommend that we brush our teeth after each meal. But that is not always practical, especially when outdoors. A more reasonable practice is to use mouthwash, especially when you have braces to loosen the particles stuck in the metal.
Get Waterpik
Normal brushing is hardly effective in removing all food particles in the hard-to-reach parts of the mouth. This is why you need to use Waterpiks. Waterpiks are highly effective in removing plaque, and you can choose between a cordless and a corded version.
Avoid Some Foods
Some foods, such as those highly acidic and those with a lot of sugar, can harm your enamel. In addition, sticky items can make it harder to brush your teeth; thus, you should avoid them.
Conclusion
Having braces makes it more challenging to brush your teeth, and you need to have a proper routine and techniques to brush them effectively. Products such as Waterpik also make taking care of your teeth and braces easier.
For more information regarding your dental health, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!