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How to Brush Your Teeth With Braces

How to Brush Your Teeth With Braces
Posted on 08/17/2020
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We know that braces can be a challenge to take care of, but it’s essential to the outcome. The last thing you want is discoloration or white spots on your teeth due to poor oral hygiene. As an expert in kid’s braces, Niagara Orthodontics provides this overview of how to brush your teeth with braces.

Brush Away the Enemy

The number one enemy of your teeth is plaque. It is the sticky, white film that forms on the surface of your teeth by the growth of bacteria. Plaque invades the areas in and around your braces, so removing that plaque is extremely important. If it is not removed properly, you may experience swollen gums, bad breath, cavities, and even permanent scars on your teeth.

As part of your orthodontic care, you should brush after every meal and snack to remove food particles and avoid plaque buildup. Your orthodontist recommends carrying a travel-sized toothbrush with you to make brushing a consistent habit after any meals or snacks.

How You Brush Matters

While brushing correctly seems like common sense, how you brush your teeth is even more important when you wear braces.

  • Use a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush and change it often because braces will wear out your toothbrush faster.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay and prevent your tooth enamel from breaking down. Also, it’s important that you not use whitening toothpaste when wearing braces because it will leave you with darker areas on the tooth surface where the brackets were.
  • Make sure you cover every surface in your mouth — fronts, sides, and backs of every tooth, plus around the hidden parts of your braces. Don’t forget to also brush your tongue, gums, and the roof of your mouth to prevent bacteria from growing.
  • Rinse your mouth thoroughly to remove any food particles and the toothpaste completely.
  • This is also a great time to do a quick check for any broken or loose wires or brackets that could cause you mouth pain and disrupt your treatment plan. If you break a bracket or wire, contact us immediately so that we can repair the damage.

Don’t Forget to Floss Too!

The best time to floss is at night before you go to bed, so that food and plaque do not sit on your teeth all night. You can use a floss threader to help you pull the floss through your teeth. Make sure you get all the way up under your gum line because that’s where plaque tends to hide. While it will be challenging and time-consuming at the beginning, with practice, you’ll have it down in no time.

Schedule a Consultation with Niagara Orthodontics Today!

If you have more questions about how to take care of your braces or to schedule an appointment, contact us. Our orthodontist and the team will be happy to answer all of your questions. You can also schedule an appointment online.

Also, ask about our orthodontic payment plans. We believe that everyone should have access to affordable braces.

We look forward to helping you with all of your orthodontic needs!

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