Getting braces is a milestone event. It is actually the first step towards getting the smile you have always longed for. Although the process is quite exciting, there is a little extra work involved. Cleaning your teeth can become an entirely new challenge once you have braces. You find food getting stuck in areas you never knew existed, and plaque enjoys hiding behind those metal squares.
Not taking care of your oral health now may mean you’ll experience problems later, such as having discolored teeth or gum inflammation. You definitely wouldn’t want your braces taken off, only for you to notice that your teeth are sporting white marks where the brackets once sat. But no need to worry, taking care of your oral health is definitely doable while you go through the process.
The Tools of the Trade
You will need more than the average toothbrush. An electric toothbrush can be recommended by an orthodontist because the vibrating action may be more effective at removing food particles. If you can’t give up your regular brush, you may want to invest in one for orthodontic use, which may be labeled an “ortho-cut brush,” with the bristles in the middle being shorter for covering the brackets.
Floss threaders are absolutely necessary. Threading normal floss with your arch wire without one can get to be a challenge. You may also want to get some interdental brushes. These resemble miniature pipe cleaners, making them ideal for cleaning between the brackets and the wires in places your normal toothbrush can’t reach. Lastly, your fluoride mouthwash is helpful in strengthening your enamel and cleaning areas your toothbrush may have overlooked.
Mastering the Brushing Technique
Brushing while wearing braces requires a minute extra in the process. To clean your teeth while wearing braces, you have to position the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees as you normally do, but you also have to clean the brackets from the top down and the bottom up. Vigorously shake the brush around each bracket to get the dirt accumulated there.
You should brush your teeth after every meal. If you’re at school and can’t brush your teeth, just be sure to rinse your mouth well with water to help expel food particles. It is a good idea to always have a kit consisting of a small brush and some toothpaste in your bag so you can brush your teeth after lunch.
The Art of Flossing
Flossing is the most difficult thing about wearing braces, but it’s also the most crucial. You have to thread the floss under the main wire before you are able to floss between your teeth. This is where floss threaders are important. After you have placed the floss under the main wire, you then floss on each side of each tooth, going into the gum line.
It’s an acquired skill, but once mastered, it’s not that difficult to do either. The aim should be to floss at least once a day, ideally in preparation for bed so that you sleep every night with a mouth that has been completely cleaned out. Water flossers can be really beneficial tools that wash out food residue in the mouth using a flow of water but should not be an absolute replacement for flossing.
Watch What You Eat
Diet is a massive factor in protecting your teeth during orthodontic care. Hard, crunchy, and sticky foods are things that you should avoid. These types of food stick to your brackets or push your wires out of place. Examples of these types of food are popcorn, nuts, caramel, and gum.
Rather, you can eat more soothing foods that are easy on your hardware. These include yogurt, smoothies, pasta, and fruits. And if you are hungry for an apple or a carrot, you can slice it into little pieces, as opposed to taking a chunk out of it. Carbonated beverages and sport drinks also need to be consumed in moderation, since sugar can readily become stuck around your hardware.
Even if you have Invisalign for teens in Palm Beach, you have more freedom than with braces, but you still need to make sensible dietary choices.
Don’t Skip the Dentist
While you yourself may be following the regular visits to the orthodontist for adjustments, you should not forget to see your general dentist for regular cleanings. Your dentist can recognize potential problems such as cavities or gum infection that the orthodontist may not be concerned with. Regular cleanings at the dentist’s office help remove tartar that may not be removed through your regular home brushing.
A Smile Worth Working For
While it may seem like a pain to maintain your teeth through the use of braces and other orthodontic treatments, do not forget to look at the overall picture. You are working towards keeping the smile of a lifetime. You are ensuring that when the time finally comes when those beautiful braces are removed from your face, your reveal is going to be straight out of a magazine. It won’t be long before you get to see the fruits of all your labor.
