How To Practice Good Oral Hygiene With Braces

When you have straight teeth, you're more likely to feel better about your smile, and your teeth will harbor fewer bacteria because they're easier for you to clean, too. But if you need braces to achieve alignment, metal brackets and wires can create a temporary oral hygiene challenge. If you're wondering how best to care for teeth with a mouth full of metal, read on. We'll give you some helpful tips and advice to get your smile to a place you can, well... smile about.

Brushing with Braces

Frequency

Brush your teeth after every meal to prevent food from getting trapped in the braces.

Angle

 Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and gently brush along the gum line and brackets.

Technique

 Clean each tooth individually, spending about 10 seconds on each.

2. Flossing with Braces

Flossing with braces is done about the same way as you would floss without braces, except that the floss must be threaded under the arch wire and between the teeth.  A floss threader, which looks like a large plastic needle, can make this easier.

Thread the floss under the arch wire.
Remove the threader.
Floss each side of each tooth in the space
Pull the floss out of the space with one hand as you release the floss with your other hand.
Repeat this method between the rest of your teeth.
If you have any questions, please ask your dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant.

Frequency

Floss at least once a day.

Tools

Use a floss threader to help guide the floss between the brackets and teeth.

3. Dietary Considerations

Care of the Braces

To prevent the braces from breaking or coming loose, Avoid: Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods like hard candies, popcorn, and gum. you should NOT eat:

Corn on the cob
Caramels
Bagels (cut them into pieces)
Ice (do not chew it)
Taffy
Whole raw carrots (cut them into strips)
Peanut brittle
Hard tack candy
Whole hard apples (cut them into pieces)
Popcorn
Gum of any kind   

Eat: Soft, easily chewable foods.

Watch : How Much Duration For Braces Treatment | Complete Treatment At Magadh Oro Dental Clinic , Patna

4. Maintaining Braces

Brace Damage

Be gentle when brushing and flossing to avoid damaging the brackets and wires.

Floss Threader

Consider using a floss threader to help clean between the teeth and under the wires. 

5. Follow-up Appointments

Importance

Keep all scheduled appointments with your orthodontist to monitor your treatment progress and address any problems.
Communication:
Don't hesitate to ask your orthodontist any questions you may have about your braces or oral hygiene. 

How often will we see the orthodontist?

Visits to the orthodontist to adjust braces or to pick up new aligners, at which time your orthodontist will evaluate the progress of treatment and assess the health of the teeth and gums, will be scheduled about every 6 to 10 weeks.for

How long will treatment last?

The length of treatment is different for each patient because each patient has a unique problem. Orthodontist at Magadh Oro Dental will give you an estimated length of treatment. 

Five tips to make your treatment go as quickly as possible

• Follow your orthodontist’s instructions on the frequency of brushing and flossing, and see your dentist for a professional cleaning at least every six months during orthodontic treatment, or more often if recommended.
• Certain food textures, such as crunchy and sticky, can damage braces.  Please consult a nutritionist about food choices if you are struggling with an eating disorder/disordered eating. If unsure, soft and easy to chew foods are go-to options.
• If you have aligners, be sure to remove them before you eat or drink anything besides tap water, and put them back in after you’re done eating or drinking and you have thoroughly cleaned your teeth.
  Sugary, acidic soft drinks including regular and diet soda pop, fruit juices, fruit drinks and sports drinks can damage braces/aligners. Tap water is recommended.
• If prescribed, wear your elastics (rubber bands) as instructed.
   
• Keep scheduled appointments with your orthodontist..

What do I do if a bracket or wire comes loose, or if I misplace an aligner?

If a bracket or wire comes loose, or if you lose or break an aligner, let your orthodontist know right away. Broken braces cannot deliver the right forces to move your teeth, and that could prolong treatment. Aligners  should be worn in a particular sequence. Your orthodontist is the best person to call for advice about next steps, and to advise whether a lost aligner will extend your treatment time.

Do braces cause discomfort?

There can be some initial discomfort when braces are placed, or for a short time after braces are adjusted, but this is temporary. Overall, orthodontic discomfort is short-lived and easily managed. Once patients become accustomed to their braces, they may even forget they have them on.

What kind of toothpaste should you use?

Fluoride toothpaste is recommended, approved by the American Dental Association, preferably without any whitening.

Are there other tools we can use to help with oral hygiene?

Here are three handy oral hygiene tools:

Interproximal brushes 

these are great at dislodging plaque and food particles trapped between teeth, and to clear out debris that catches on brackets and wires.

Water irrigators

these can flush out food particles in a jif!

Fluoride mouth rinse 

whether over-the-counter or prescription strength, a daily fluoride rinse can strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent white marks (decalcification).
Your orthodontist may suggest dipping an interproximal brush in a capful of fluoride rinse to deliver fluoride protection between the teeth, or using a fluoride rinse instead of water in an irrigator.

Caring Different Types of Braces

While taking care of all types of braces requires diligence and attention, there are some differences between available options to straighten teeth.

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Caring of Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are like traditional braces; instead, they use clear or tooth-coloured ceramic for the brackets (and sometimes wires). The most significant difference in caring for these braces is that they're more likely to be discoloured if neglected. Ceramic is more easily stained than stainless steel because it is porous. The tiny elastics or ligatures that connect the wires to the brackets are also susceptible to stains.

We recommend that you avoid items likely to cause stains like curry, meals heavy with tomatoes, red wine, or berries. Consult dental professionals about replacing any stained elastics.

Caring of Lingual Braces

Lingual is a word not everyone knows off the top of their head, but simply describes something near your tongue. Lingual braces are like the traditional type, but with the brackets and wires on the back of your teeth instead of the front. Because of their location, lingual braces require special attention to ensure they're cared for correctly. We recommend cleaning thoroughly to avoid trapped food, plaque build-up, and damage. If you're not sure if you've damaged your lingual braces, make an appointment with your dental professional.

Caring of Clear aligners

Caring for clear aligners require a unique approach simply because they're removable. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, it would help if you avoided all drinks except tap water with your clear aligners. Liquids can get trapped and wear down your teeth or the aligner. If you remove your aligner to have a sugary or acidic drink, make sure to brush before replacing it.

Whatever type of braces you have, remember it's essential to follow proper dental hygiene and check in regularly with your dentist or orthodontist. You've made an excellent decision for your dental health, now's the perfect time to use that momentum to build healthy habits. Follow these tips you've learned about your braces, and you could be on your way to your dream smile!