Having braces on your teeth means you have to spend some extra time cleaning your teeth to prevent stains, tooth decay and gum disease. You also need to be careful not to damage the braces. If you are using any type of method for teeth straightening, these tips should help you keep your teeth clean.
This starts with having the right toothbrush. Trying to brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush when you have braces on them is an exercise in futility. You should get a toothbrush that will make the job easier, like an electric toothbrush or a soft brush with round bristles. There are also toothbrushes made specifically for cleaning teeth with braces, or you can ask your dentist for recommendations if you are not sure which type of brush you should use on your teeth.
The best way to brush your teeth when you have braces is to rinse your mouth with water, which will help loosen the food stuck in the braces. Since the food particles stuck in the brackets get harder the longer they are there, you should try rinsing your mouth after every meal. When you are done rinsing, you should brush each tooth above and below the brackets. After brushing, rinse your mouth again to remove any food particles that you might have missed.
Having braces makes flossing a difficult task because you have to do a lot of weaving around the wires and brackets to get between your teeth. Despite the difficulty, it is recommended that you floss frequently to get out the particles you might not have been able to remove with your brush.
Using fluoride mouthwash is essential when it comes to keeping teeth clean during teeth straightening because the brackets make it difficult to thoroughly clean your teeth. Using fluoride mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth helps fight cavities and prevents tooth decay as well as white spots forming on your teeth.
Your diet is very important when it comes to your oral health and even more so when you have braces. You should avoid eating a lot of starchy and sugary foods because they can cause a buildup of plaque around the brackets, which can lead to your teeth getting stained, cavities and gum disease.
You should also avoid eating snacks like popcorn to prevent kernels from getting stuck in the brackets. Chewy and sticky foods like caramel and taffy might taste good, but they wreak havoc on your brackets if they get stuck because they are difficult to remove.
Foods like nuts and beef jerky are also bad for your braces because they can loosen the brackets or break the wires, which leads to another set of problems you should avoid. Even healthy foods like carrots and apples should either be avoided or cut into smaller pieces before eating.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is difficult because the brackets on your teeth get in the way of cleaning them properly. If you need more tips on keeping teeth clean during teeth straightening, talk to your dentist about how to keep your teeth clean with braces on.
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