Wearing braces makes it difficult to maintain and clean your teeth and gums. However, while brushing teeth with braces is somewhat laborious, it’s simpler than it sounds. In this article, Dr. Rial, a specialist in Dentistry and Stomatology, explains 7 steps to a healthy and beautiful smile, even with braces.
Step 1. Before you start, rinse your mouth
After eating, food remains in the mouth. Before you start brushing, remove the rubber bands from your brackets and give your mouth a good rinse with water to remove them.
Step 2. Keep your toothbrush ready at all times.
There are special orthodontic toothbrushes that have bristles of different lengths and a smaller brush head. These allow access to and cleaning of difficult areas.
It is advisable to replace them approximately every three months or when you notice that the filaments begin to open.
Step 3. Use fluoride toothpaste
Braces increase the risk of tooth decay. Using a toothpaste that contains fluoride and is gentle on the enamel will decrease the chances.
Step 4. Brushing technique
Brushing should last at least four minutes. Both teeth and orthodontic appliances should be thoroughly brushed.
First, remove the moving parts of the appliance and tilt the brush so that the bristles pass over and under the brackets.
Next, the teeth should be brushed one by one in a circular motion so that the entire surface of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, focusing on the arch where the teeth meet the gum, palate and tongue.
Step 5. Don’t forget the interdental spaces
At a minimum, an interproximal brush, irrigator or dental floss should be used once a day. In this way, you can access the most difficult to clean nooks and crannies.
It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the interproximal brush. The right one is the one that fits gently between the teeth without forcing.
Dental floss is more complicated to use if you wear braces. In this case, you can opt for a floss threader or superfloss, a type of floss with a harder end that will make it easier to clean the braces.
Step 6. Finish brushing with a mouthwash.
Mouthwash should not contain alcohol so that it does not dry out your mouth. However, it should contain fluoride to enhance the anti-plaque effect of brushing and protect your teeth.
Step 7. Look in the mirror
After brushing your teeth with braces it is a good idea to do a final check and look in a mirror to make sure there is no residue on the braces.
Finally…
In addition to a good oral hygiene, it is advisable to avoid foods that can damage the teeth, such as sugary products, sticky foods (chewing gum or candy), popcorn or fibrous meats. Your dental health and braces will thank you.