How To Keep Your Teeth Clean With Braces
Congrats! You’re embarking on a journey of having a beautiful and healthy smile. Braces aren’t dreaded like in the past; now they cool and fun and every teenager (even adults too) want in. Now that you have braces, your teeth are a bit more tricky to keep clean. Brushing and flossing should be done at least twice per day, but with braces you should brush your teeth and/or rinse properly after every meal and snack. Always keep your toothbrush handy! Food particles and plaque can become stuck to the brackets which leaves you more at risk of tooth decay.
Here are six ways to keep your teeth clean when wearing braces, along with some recommended products:
1. Brushing, of course!
Rinsing your mouth with water or mouth rinse before brushing can help to break up loose food particles and make brushing much easier. Brush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite. Begin at the gum line and brush your teeth at about a 45-degree angle. Then brush the top of the brackets, followed by the bottom of the bracket. The goal is to brush every tooth at the gum line and along the brackets so that as much tooth surface as possible is cleaned.
Replace your toothbrush or brush head (if your toothbrush is electric) more frequently due to the wear and tear from the braces, ideally every 3 months. A good choice is Boka Brush, an electric toothbrush that uses sonic power to deliver a gentle yet effective clean. It is also recommended that you carry a travel toothbrush in your book bag or purse.
2. Flossing
Flossing is just as important as brushing! and it remains equally important when you have braces. Using a floss threader can make flossing a lot easier. Let’s admit, although very necessary flossing isn’t always fun, that’s why fruit or minty flavored floss like Ela Mint from Boka encourages flossing.
3. Water Flosser
A water flosser can also be used before/after brushing to remove any stubborn food particles that are stuck around the braces or between the teeth. I usually recommend a water flosser especially to my younger patients, but note that it is not a substitute for string floss.
4. Mouth Rinse
After brushing, use a mouth rinse to get rid of any remaining bacteria that can cause inflammation of the gums and cause decay. Not to mention, rinsing also helps your breath to remain fresh! Remember that rinsing is not a substitute for brushing and flossing.
5. Don’t Forget Your Tongue
Did you know 80-90% of the bacteria that causes bad breath reside on the tongue? In addition to brushing, flossing and rinsing, try using a tongue scraper to keep your breath smelling fresh and clean.
6. Braces-Friendly Diet
There are certain foods you will want to avoid when wearing braces. Foods and drinks with a higher acidic content are not as friendly to your teeth as those with a lower acidic content. For example, bananas are better for your teeth than oranges, water and milk are better than soft drinks, and so on. Ask your Orthodontist for a full run down of the foods you can and cannot eat with braces.
If you’re looking for an all-natural oral care product, try boka. Their toothpaste uses n-hydroxyapatite instead of fluoride, is SLS an parade free and their floss is made of vegetable wax. Use this link or enter code: theunorthodoc to get 20% off your purchase.
Brush, Floss, Rinse - Repeat!
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