Wearing braces is only part of the job in getting that perfect smile! Taking care of your oral hygiene is also crucial during the process of wearing braces. This includes brushing your teeth the correct way and taking time to clean all the food particles or plaque that will accumulate around the brackets.
Without proper hygiene habits there may be negative effects…
Effects Of Not Brushing Teeth While Wearing Braces
Proper oral hygiene is always important with or without braces. Wearing braces just means you have to take extra care of your teeth, so you reduce any chances of developing other dental problems. Due to their design, braces are traps for plaque and food. Bacteria, food particles, and plaque will accumulate around the brackets that are glued onto to your teeth surfaces. If these are not removed, they may damage the enamel around the bracket and form cavities among other issues.
How To Keep Teeth Clean and Healthy While Wearing Braces
Wearing braces will straighten your teeth, fix any misalignment, and provide you with a beautiful smile. However, it also makes your teeth more difficult to clean, and you need to take extra care in order to avoid any unnecessary dental issues. Tooth decay is more likely to happen when you wear braces, as the metal or clear brackets need to be adequately maintained and cleansed from all bacteria and food particles.
Remember to rinse your mouth with fresh water before you even start brushing your teeth. This will help you remove any loose food particles and will make the brushing a lot easier. When you start brushing, make sure you do not apply too much pressure. Patients with braces usually brush teeth with more force than needed, thinking it cleans the brackets more efficiently. This is not the case and may actually damage your teeth and braces in the long run.
Instead, brush the teeth at about a 45-degree angle. Gently brush the top of the brackets, followed by the bottom of the brackets and the wire. Having special, interdental brushes, will help you reach the tooth’s surface more efficiently and help you navigate around the brackets and wires in order to clean every tooth thoroughly. Try brushing your teeth after every meal and always rinse your mouth after every snack to avoid any possibilities of food sticking to the braces and teeth.
Flossing remains an essential component of proper oral hygiene when wearing braces. Most people are unsure of how to floss with braces because of the wires going across the teeth. Using a floss threader will make this task a lot easier. It will take some practice to thread the floss under the main wire before passing it between two teeth. It can feel like a chore, but it is a necessity in order to keep your mouth healthy, your teeth clean, and your braces in place. Try flossing at least once a day.
Lastly, try avoiding certain foods that may damage your teeth and braces. You will want to avoid sticky foods, like caramel, that may get stuck between your teeth and braces and is difficult to clean. Also, foods and drinks with higher acidic content are not friendly to your teeth, braces or mouth in general.
Source: Damon