Knowing how to clean your teeth properly is an essential step towards proper dental health. Today, our Richmond Hill dentists explain the best way to clean teeth that are undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces.
Cleaning Teeth With Braces
When you have braces, keeping your teeth clean requires more focus to avoid complications with your orthodontic treatment.
If you have braces, neglecting to keep them clean can result in declassification. That means when your braces are removed, you will be left with white stains around your teeth where the braces were. Also called white spot lesions, they are avoidable with proper oral hygiene.
Knowing how to clean your teeth properly can be challenging with the added brackets and wires blocking you from getting up close to the surface of your teeth. Here are some tips to remember when trying to keep your teeth clean while wearing braces:
Choose the Right Brush
Chances are, the toothbrush you had before getting braces will no longer work with braces.
Although many ordinary toothbrushes will be sufficient, a few options do a better job of getting your teeth clean. For example, your dentist may recommend an electric toothbrush. Similarly, you may want to opt for a toothbrush that is specifically designed to get around hard-to-reach spots due to braces. Spindle brushes are another option to get in between your teeth and your braces.
Brush the Exterior of Your Teeth First
The exterior of your teeth requires a little extra attention, primarily because your braces are fixed to them. When you have braces, plaque builds up more easily around the brackets which is where the most damage can happen to your teeth. Our Richmond Hill dentists recommend brushing underneath your braces first to remove most of the food particles and plaque on the areas below your brackets.
Brush the Interior of Your Teeth Next
This area will be a lot easier to keep clean. In most cases, you’ll be fine to brush your teeth naturally using a circular motion. Make sure to change your toothbrush regularly due to the additional wear and tear caused by your braces.
Remember, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth after every snack and meal to stay on top of your cleanliness.
Don't Forget to Floss
Flossing once daily is important—with or without braces. To assist you in flossing with braces, use a floss threader to make it easier to get between your teeth. If you have younger children with braces, be prepared to help them with flossing as they may lack the coordination to get the floss under their wires.
Make Regular Dental Appointments
Caring for your teeth at home is important, but so is visiting your dentist for regularly scheduled routine hygiene appointments and dental exams. Professional cleanings help prevent plaque build-up and allow your dentist to point out any areas of your mouth you might be missing when doing your home care.