The Challenge of Cleaning
If you’re wearing dental braces, wires, springs and rubber bands, rest assure that you will need extra care for your teeth and gums, now more than before you had them. It can be a daunting task since braces may have to be worn anywhere from one to three years. If the patient is just a child, the parents’ and the orthodontist’s roles are crucial to the journey.
Poor oral hygiene while wearing braces is detrimental to the health of your teeth and gums. Food bits and beverages with starchy or sugary pieces or acidic elements can lodge in between the littlest of spaces and get trapped, including in between tooth surfaces and under the gumline. Half-hearted or irregular brushing can leave them behind to develop into plaque. With bacterial colonization, decay and cavities are not far behind.
Most orthodontists will recommend brushing after every meal or snack to prevent buildup of debris.There are special types of brushes designed to clean in-between braces. You can ask your orthodontist about it. Some will recommend to invest in and to know how to properly use an electric toothbrush which can make brushing a lot easier and faster. A prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste can help prevent decay and cavities during this time, and prevent unsightly round white spots from forming around brackets.
Practitioners will include fluoride mouthwash daily, essential to keep the enamel strong and resistant to bacterial attacks. Mouth rinses can also soothe inflamed or tender gums, often due to pressure from the brackets. For easy flushing of debris, a water pik or an air flosser is recommended. Using air or streams of water, these pinpoint appliances can make easy work of hard to reach places and under the gumline.
Flossing is a must for those with braces; difficult but rewarding. Ask your orthodontist how to best use floss with your braces. All your teeth will have to be flossed, the string variety is ideal , but there are handier and easier to use floss tools.
Also, rinse your mouth with water as often as you eat or drink; not just to keep your oral structures hydrated but also to ensure freshness and that you loosen food bits stuck in some places. You must protect your mouth via a mouthguard during sports activities. Finally, be faithful to your dental appointments.
Know more about dental care from your Bellevue dentist. If you take good care of your braces, they will serve you in good stead in time. Proper dental hygiene is key to all successful orthodontic outcomes.