Many individuals do not take care of their teeth on a daily basis at all. Thus, most of them suffer from one or the other dental issues. Brushing and maintaining proper dental hygiene benefits you to a significant extent. You won’t have to deal with excruciating pain in your teeth if you prioritize good dental hygiene.
Remember that it is essential to maintain good oral hygiene even when you undergo an orthodontic treatment. Besides having a healthy smile and sparkling white teeth, you can keep the risk of gum disease and tooth decay at bay. All you have to do is follow proper oral care methods before, during and post-orthodontics.
Dental Hygiene with Braces
Diligently following an appropriate oral hygiene routine is of utmost importance when you put on braces. The sole reason is that having a dental appliance on can increase the risk of food remnants and bacteria getting trapped often around the teeth.
Your priority when wearing dental braces is keeping the teeth and gums clean and plaque-free. Cavities are sure to happen if plaque, a hazardous bacterial layer, keeps depositing on the teeth. So, proper dental hygiene is necessary if you do not want to experience tooth decay too soon.
How to Practice Good Oral Hygiene with Braces
Opting to wear braces is the best solution to keep teeth in good shape and ensure they look nice. You can practice dental hygiene with braces without any problems if you know all the correct techniques. The braces that your dentist fixes right onto your teeth during orthodontic treatment will look unappealing because of the development of yellow stains.
So, brushing teeth every day matters the most, even when the braces are on to avoid plaque build up. The sticky biofilm-like substance contains saliva proteins and microorganisms. Bacteria that remain present in the mouth get attached to the surface of the tooth owing to dental plaque. The colony of bacteria grows more and more with the consistent plaque build-up.
Ask your dentist to recommend toothbrushes ideal for individuals with braces. You can easily clean your teeth and gums when you use a toothbrush with soft bristles capable of reaching the areas around the dental braces. Using a toothpaste containing fluoride can prove beneficial, besides sticking to dental floss as well as floss threader.
Foods to avoid during an Orthodontic Treatment
No matter how much you’re fond of certain foods, you have no option other than refraining from consuming them. It is not possible and unsafe for a person with braces to eat all kinds of food items. Avoiding sticky, chewable and crunchy foods is necessary if you wear braces, as these items can damage bands, arch wires and brackets significantly.
If one does not remove food debris when cleaning braces fixed on the teeth, plaque and tartar build-up will keep taking place. Such a condition causes the appearance of white marks on the teeth’s surfaces.
It won’t take much time for cavity formation around your braces if you do not take proper oral care and stay away from consuming candies, nuts, gum, corn, pizza crust, crunchy vegetables, etc.
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Step-by-Step Oral Hygiene Routine for Braces
Anyone with braces has to follow good dental hygiene to protect teeth and gums and reduce plaque build-up. Poor oral hygiene can lead to gingival inflammation, enamel demineralisation and halitosis (bad breath), besides adversely impacting the quality of life. So, it is essential to prioritise oral care during as well as post-orthodontic treatment.
Keeping your teeth and gums free of harmful dental plaque has to be your foremost task if you do not want to experience tooth decay or cavities. Maintaining your dental health during orthodontics won’t be challenging at all if you follow your dentist’s instructions. You can effectively clean your teeth and gums even if you wear braces.
Brushing as well as flossing your teeth can help you maintain their shape and condition, apart from having a healthy smile. Make sure you do not brush your teeth extremely hard. Instead, put sufficient pressure while cleaning your teeth, gums and braces. Interdental brushes can enable you to clean hard-to-reach areas in the mouth.
Use floss threaders to quickly get the floss between the gum line and the wires. Most patients prefer using a water flosser while they undergo an orthodontic treatment. Post brushing and flossing, you can use a plaque-disclosing tablet at times. Fluoride mouthwash can help improve your tooth decay resistance during orthodontics. However, you must ask your dentist before using it.
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Important Oral Hygiene Tips
Maintaining good oral hygiene is necessary regardless of whether you wear braces or not. Here’s what you must follow daily for healthy teeth as well as gums.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to brush and clean teeth and gums at least twice every day.
- Properly brush the tongue to remove oral bacteria
- Flossing daily can benefit a lot
- Choose the best antibacterial mouthwash
- Avoid tobacco products to keep the risk of oral cancer away
- Opt for scheduled dental checkups and cleaning processes
You can get the best quality orthodontic treatment when you choose Orion Orthodontic & Dental Care, the most reputed dental clinic. Most people with an issue with their teeth and gums visit the centre because it boasts of certified and experienced dentists who employ advanced tools and technologies to make you smile brighter.
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