After getting braces, your orthodontist gives you various aftercare instructions, including how to brush with braces. It is crucial that you follow all aftercare instructions regarding your oral hygiene after getting braces in order to make sure that the teeth-straightening treatment is successful. That said, brushing and flossing with braces can be difficult.
To help you properly care for your oral hygiene after getting braces, our dentists here at Advanced Indiana have compiled a list of tips you can use to brush and floss with braces efficiently. By following these tips, you can ensure that your teeth remain healthy despite the difficulty introduced by braces. Let’s get started!
1. Use the Right Type of Toothbrush
If you have braces, it is highly recommended that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush each time you brush your teeth. Stiff bristles have been known to damage braces. You should also take care to select a toothbrush with an angled head in order to clean the plaque from inside the braces efficiently. It’s also not a bad idea to use an electric toothbrush, as well as a water pick during your brushing routine. However, you should always keep your electric toothbrush on sensitive mode to ensure that you don’t damage your braces.
2. Use the Right Toothpaste
It’s very important to use the right type of toothpaste for brushing when you have braces. While whitening toothpaste is meant to give you a pearly white smile, it isn’t necessarily the best choice for those with braces.
Whitening toothpaste is made up of harmful chemicals which can, aside from damaging your teeth, leave your teeth only partially whitened as some of the area is covered by the brackets. If you use whitening toothpaste during the length of time that you have braces, you may find that you have spotted teeth after your braces come off. For this reason, it is best to use regular toothpaste made for sensitive teeth while you have braces.
3. Follow a Brushing Routine
People without braces are usually recommended to brush their teeth twice a day. When you are someone with braces, however, things tend to be a little more complicated than that. Instead, you’ll need to stick to a brushing routine. Unlike most people without braces, you should take care to brush your teeth after each meal, as well as when you wake up and when you go to bed. If you don’t stick to a brushing routine with braces, you have a higher chance of developing severe infections, such as gingivitis.
4. Use the Right Brushing Technique
There is a specific technique that you should use when brushing your teeth if you have braces. It is recommended to start by brushing your gums before your teeth, using a 45-degree angle. Once you make your way to your teeth, you need to continuously tilt the toothbrush to ensure that you get it inside all of the brackets efficiently. Use short circular strokes to get inside both the gums and the brackets. To clean the surface, however, you should use flat strokes. Throughout the entire process, use slow and gentle movements so as not to damage the braces. Finally, we recommend brushing for at least two minutes each time.
5. Use the Best Flossing Technique For Braces
So what about flossing? While flossing with braces can be difficult, there is a particular technique you should use. Start by wrapping the floss threat around your finger and holding its end with your other hand. To floss each tooth, form a C shape with the thread to clean it thoroughly. Clean each tooth the same way for roughly 20 to 30 seconds. Finish with a fluoride mouthwash.
Indiana Dentists That Care About Your Oral Health
Now that you know some of our best tips for caring for your oral hygiene with braces, you have all of the information you need to develop a good oral hygiene routine. If you’re looking for a dentist in Anderson or Fortville areas, look no further than Advanced Indiana.
Our expert staff of dentists care about your oral health and will go the extra mile to ensure your smile stays bright and healthy! We offer a variety of dental services that can give you a healthier and happier smile that lasts a lifetime. Please feel free to contact us or request an appointment online today!