Oral Hygiene With Braces
It's very important that you maintain good oral hygiene habits while you have your braces on. Keeping your mouth clean protects your teeth against cavities and gum disease like gingivitis.
Keeping Your Teeth Clean With Braces
Maintaining good oral hygiene becomes especially important once braces are in place. Braces create small spaces around the brackets and wires where food particles and plaque can easily get trapped. This can make brushing and flossing a bit more challenging at first, but with consistent effort and a little practice, you'll quickly become an expert at keeping your teeth clean and healthy during treatment.
At each of your orthodontic appointments, we’ll check not only the progress of your braces but also the health of your teeth and gums. It's essential that you brush thoroughly after every meal and floss at least once a day to remove any debris that your toothbrush may miss. If plaque is left to build up, it can lead to stains, gum inflammation, and even cavities—problems that can slow down your treatment and potentially extend the time you’ll need to wear braces. Staying on top of your oral hygiene will help ensure your treatment stays on track and your smile looks its best when the braces come off.
Tips for Achieving and Maintaining a Clean Mouth With Braces
Maintain your six-month dental appointments with your family dentist. It’s important that you don’t miss your regular cleaning appointments. Consider keeping a portable pocket toothbrush on hand wherever you go so that you can brush your teeth after each and every meal.
At a minimum, swishing with water after eating will help remove food debris from the teeth. If your gums show signs of puffiness, rinse with warm salt-water twice daily (one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water). Fluoride rinses used once daily are very helpful in protecting against cavities.
Use the prescription toothpaste that Dr. Benitez recommends (Prevident 5000) at night before you go to bed. Brush with regular toothpaste, rinse, and then brush with the Prevident 5000 toothpaste. DO NOT rinse after this. Spit out and leave the film on your teeth so it can protect your teeth overnight.
If you are having trouble keeping up with your oral hygiene, please don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to help and can provide more suggestions and resources.
