Braces and Oral Hygiene: Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Clean 

Proper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is essential to avoid cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues. This can be incredibly challenging with braces because food particles can become stuck in and around your brackets.

The best way to clean your teeth is by brushing and flossing correctly. These tips can help you maintain good oral hygiene while wearing braces and achieve the smile you’ve always wanted!

Brushing

Brushing is one of the best ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy. But when you have braces near me, ensuring you are doing it right is even more critical!

The correct way to brush your teeth is by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Start with the gum line, then brush each tooth in small, circular motions.

You should spend two minutes on each tooth. Set a timer to help you stay on track.

Using a soft-bristled brush, hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and move it in small circles around each tooth and the gum line. You should also brush the inside surface of your teeth and your tongue.

When you finish brushing, rinse your mouth with water to remove food debris that can be hard to reach. Floss at least twice daily, and use threadable floss to make the job easier.

Flossing

Flossing should be done at least once daily to avoid tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems. Floss removes food particles and plaque that brushing alone can’t reach.

While you’re wearing braces, it’s essential to floss after every meal or snack. This is because foods like dried fruits, pretzels, and other hard snacks tend to stick between the teeth.

It also helps to eliminate bacteria that can harm your teeth and gums, especially if you don’t have a regular oral care routine.

To floss, grab a piece of dental floss and gently work it up and down between your teeth. Be sure to use a clean section of floss each time you floss.

Interdental Brushes

Interdental brushes remove plaque and food debris from the spaces between teeth. It is essential to clean these areas to prevent tooth caries, gum disease, and other oral health problems.

The American Dental Association recommends using an interdental brush before or after brushing your teeth to help with cleaning between teeth and in crevices where floss may not be able to get into. They can also be helpful for people with braces, as they can help get into hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

Shopping is one of the best methods to cut costs on dental treatment. They also efficiently eliminate germs and plaque buildup that can cause cavities, gum inflammation, and bad breath. They come in different sizes and are inexpensive and easy to use.

Choose an interdental brush that fits the gaps between your teeth, so you can easily insert it and gently brush. They can be made of plastic or rubber and have bristles coated with chlorhexidine, which helps with antibacterial protection.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash helps remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas in your mouth that aren’t cleaned with toothbrushing and flossing. Moreover, it aids in fighting odor-causing microorganisms and breath freshening.

Finding the right ingredients for oral health is vital to good mouthwash. Some mouthwashes include a chemical that prevents the growth of bacteria, while others contain antimicrobial agents to help kill the harmful microorganisms in your teeth and gums.

A mouthwash with fluoride can help prevent tooth decay while wearing braces. Some mouthwashes contain phosphate that strengthens enamel to protect teeth from cavities and staining.

This is an alcohol-free rinse approved by the American Dental Association and helps prevent white spots and stains in your teeth during treatment. It also contains phosphorus to rebuild weakened enamel and is recommended by orthodontists.