Getting braces is an investment in a beautiful smile and long-term oral health. Everyone wants perfectly aligned teeth to boost their confidence. However, the journey to that dream smile comes with a significant challenge: oral care while wearing braces, which requires much more attention than usual. This is because orthodontic appliances on your teeth become a prime spot for food particles and bacteria to accumulate, which can lead to major problems like cavities and gingivitis more easily than you might think. Berry Dent has compiled a complete guide to oral care while wearing braces all in one place.
Why is Oral Care During Orthodontic Treatment Especially Important?
Every time you eat, the brackets and wires, which are like “fences” on your teeth, become traps, making it very easy for food particles to get stuck. These small food particles, when combined with oral bacteria, form sticky plaque that adheres to the gumline and around orthodontic appliances. If not cleaned properly, the plaque will produce acid that destroys the tooth surface, leading to cavities, and can cause gum inflammation, swelling, redness, and easy bleeding. This is why the method of caring for your teeth while having braces needs to be particularly meticulous.
Tips and Methods for Thoroughly Cleaning Your Teeth with Braces
Although it may seem complicated, with the right techniques and proper tools, cleaning your teeth is not too difficult. Let’s see what needs to be done.
- Upgrade Your Brushing Technique
Forget your old brushing habits, because people with braces need to pay more attention to detail. Choose an orthodontic toothbrush with a V-shaped groove in the bristles or an extra-soft bristled toothbrush.
- Brushing Technique:
- Above the Brackets: Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline and brush downwards.
- Below the Brackets: Place the brush at a 45-degree angle, pointing up towards the tip of the tooth, and brush upwards.
- On the Brackets: Place the brush directly on the brackets and move it in short, gentle circles.
- Frequency: You should brush your teeth after every meal to remove food particles as quickly as possible.
- Interdental Brush: The Essential Secret Weapon
A regular toothbrush cannot reach the small spaces on the sides of the brackets and under the wires. The “interdental brush” is the real hero here. Use it to clean in the areas where a regular toothbrush can’t reach to remove hidden plaque completely.
- Use Floss for People with Braces
Many people get discouraged with flossing when they have braces, but this step is very important for preventing cavities between the teeth. It is recommended to use aids like “orthodontic floss,” which has a stiff end like plastic, making it easy to thread under the wire, or a “floss threader,” which is a loop for threading floss through.
- Use Mouthwash as a Supplement
After brushing and flossing, rinsing with a mouthwash that contains fluoride and is alcohol-free will help reduce bacterial buildup and freshen your breath. But remember that mouthwash is only a “supplement” and cannot replace brushing and flossing.
You’ve invested in getting braces, so you must take care of them to the fullest. The effort you put into proper oral care during orthodontic treatment today, along with a hybrid herbal toothpaste like Berry Dent—which contains natural extracts, 5 types of berries, and 1500 ppm fluoride to provide comprehensive care for your mouth and teeth—will reward you with a beautiful smile and strong dental health for a long, long time after the braces come off.