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If you have braces, you undoubtedly know that you need to give them special attention to help protect your teeth against the effects of decay, stains and gum disease. It also goes without saying, as you clean and go about your day, you should also avoid doing anything that will break your braces or the wire. These daily activities include eating hard foods and being conscious about “mouth habits” such as pressing your tongue against your teeth. These may seem like obvious tips, but it is easy to forget about them, which is why we’ve got you covered with a list of handy hints below:
Brushing
We all know about the general rule that you should brush your teeth twice daily. However, if you happen to have braces, it’s important that you clean your teeth after every meal, especially after that late-night biscuit. This is because food is much more likely to become lodged in your braces, which can lead to a build-up of plaque.
The best type of toothbrush to use for your braces is an electric toothbrush, or a toothbrush with soft bristles.
When brushing, always rinse your mouth with water first, which will help to clean out food particles that might be stuck in-between your braces. Then, brush your teeth by starting from the line of your gum, keeping your toothbrush at around 45 degrees. Brush downwards and clean your brackets, starting at the top, and moving to the bottom of the tooth. When brushing your bottom teeth, start from bottom to the top, also keeping your brush at a 45-degree angle. Finally, rinse your mouth with anti-bacterial mouthwash.
Other ways to clean your teeth with braces
You should floss daily, and ensure you floss under the wiring of your braces. To make it easier to floss under your brace wires, ask your dentist to suggest a flosser that allows this, which you can usually buy at the supermarket.
If you are still struggling, another option to consider for hard-to-reach areas is an oral irrigator, which will help remove food particles and plaque with a powerful stream of water. Never forget to end it with a mouthwash, preferably an anti-bacterial one.
What you eat is also important
With braces, you must be more conscious of your food choices. Of course, you should stay away from sugary foods because, as you know, they cause a build-up of plaque. In particular, you should take care to avoid sticky and chewy foods like dried fruits, caramels, and so on. These types of foods are much more prone to become stuck and it may be very difficult to remove from your braces.
Avoid hard foods like nuts, because eating them can damage the wires of your braces and cause the brackets to become loose. Apples, though considered a healthier option, is not suitable for you if you wear braces, because the hard skin can break the wiring.
Final tip
If you ever find yourself somewhere and you know you need to brush your teeth, but have no toothbrush, you can still rinse your mouth out with some water, or mouthwash, if you have a travel-sized bottle handy! In fact, try and keep a bottle of anti-bacterial mouthwash with you at all time, if possible.
For more information or if you want to speak to a professional about your braces, feel free to contact us on (03) 9571 9016.
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