As you know keeping your teeth clean is important for the health of your teeth and gums. Improper dental hygiene can result in tooth decay, gingivitis, and other undesirable results. Braces are necessary to correct many situations, but they do make the cleaning of teeth significantly more difficult. Below are 3 tips on how to keep your teeth and braces clean:
1. Avoid certain foods – While wearing braces, most foods can still be eaten if you cut them into small pieces that can be easily chewed. There are certain foods, however, that can break or loosen braces and should be avoided, such as:
- Hard or tough-to-bite foods, such as apples or bagels
- Chewy foods, such as taffy or caramels
- Corn on the cob
- Hard pretzels, popcorn, nuts, and carrots
In addition, do not chew ice or bubble gum. Source: WebMD
2. Flossing your teeth with braces – For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day.
Use the reusable floss threader provided by our office to floss under your archwire daily. Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser through the threader and slide it up and down along the front of each tooth. You will be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against your clean teeth.
Use care around your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth and gums.
If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next appointment. Source: Alborzi
3. Minimize sugary foods – Foods and drinks such as cake, candy, ice cream, pie, and soda don’t do your teeth any favors. Make sure you brush and floss after you eat foods or drink beverages high in sugar. There are also sugar-neutralizing kinds of toothpaste available, see if it’s okay to use this type of paste on your braces. Source: wikiHow
For additional information about keeping your teeth and braces clean, please contact our office. We’re always here to help!
Contact:
Lakewood Orthodontics
721 NE Lakewood Blvd
Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
United States
