How to maintain dental hygiene with braces?

Good dental hygiene is vital at all stages of life, but it is crucial while you wear braces because it may keep your teeth from staining, safeguard the health of your gums, and prevent bad breath. Moreover, dentists recommend brushing your teeth after each meal. If you can't, washing your mouth with water or mouthwash might help eliminate plaque and food buildup until you reach your toothbrush.

Therefore, you must know ways to take care of your braces. If you correctly care for your braces, they will be much more comfortable and effective, bringing you a beautiful smile.

Ways to take care of your braces

Brushing

Brushing is vital whether you have braces or not, but it is more important when having orthodontic treatment. When you have braces, it is much easier for food and plaque to become caught in the brackets and create issues, so use a toothbrush with a soft head to reach those hard-to-reach regions. If you want to use an electric toothbrush, that is also OK.

Flossing

Flossing while wearing braces might be difficult, but it is an essential component of your dental hygiene that should not be overlooked. Moreover, flossing aids in the removal of plaque as well as tiny food particles that become lodged in your braces or between your teeth. If flossing with flossing tape is difficult for you, consider floss threaders for braces or interdental brushes.

Use fluoride mouthwash

Bacteria enjoys hiding in your braces. Therefore, it is essential to rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash to keep your braces clean and healthy teeth. With mouthwash, you can get a healthy mouth and smile in 30 seconds to a minute. You will also have better breath. Rinse twice a day after brushing.

Avoid certain foods

Although only a few meals are strictly forbidden when wearing braces, your orthodontist will provide you with a list of items to avoid while receiving treatment.

Plus, if you're always biting your nails or chewing pen lids, you'll need to break that habit immediately! These behaviors and foods might cause braces to break or bend, which is never good.

It would help if you also avoid sugary meals and drinks since they cause discoloration and deterioration around your brackets. These stains might be permanent and will grow more visible when the braces are removed, which will not help you to achieve.

If you wear fixed braces, avoid snacking excessively and strive to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Foods to avoid when wearing braces include:

• Chewy foods like lollipops and candies
• crunchy food
• Bubble gum
• Hard foods like nuts
• Raw vegetables and fruits
• Beverages and energy drinks

Conclusion

If you're wearing braces, you should do everything to ensure the greatest possible outcome. Keeping your teeth clean, flossing regularly, and thinking about what you eat are all accessible but effective ways to ensure a flawless smile when your braces come off.

Contact your Pinole dentist, Dr. Hoss Abar, DDS, MSD at Abar Orthodontics to learn more about dental hygiene.

Resource:

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This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition