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You should be prepared for the fact that taking care of your teeth will be more difficult once you get braces. Braces have countless tiny spaces to trap food, and this trapped food causes plaque, which can lead to many other dental problems. Because of this, it's very important to brush your teeth after every meal (snacks count, too), to rinse with mouthwash, and to floss at least once a day. This may seem tedious or excessive, but neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to serious oral health problems, force you to spend additional time in braces, or cause unsightly staining on your teeth. The extra responsibility needed to care for braces properly is something that both you and your child should be prepared for.
They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.
Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional's recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.
Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces is imperative and achieved easily. It is done to prevent any cavities and to prevent gum disease.
We recommend you brush in 3 distinct steps:
Step 1
Brush flat on braces and upper teeth moving the brush in small circular movements starting from one side of the mouth slowly moving to the other side. This is followed by opening your mouth and following similar steps for the lower teeth.
Step 2
Brush the teeth by holding the brush at a 45° degree angle to the teeth and approaching from the biting surfaces of the teeth. The goal is to get the bristles of the brush to clean under the wire and in between the braces using small to-and-fro movements.
Step 3
Similar to Step 2 with bristles approaching from the gum ends of the teeth. The goal is to massage the gums with the tooth brush and clean the areas of teeth next to the gums.
Brushing is recommended at least twice daily and should be followed by flossing. Use of a mouth wash and forcefully swishing it in your mouth after brushing is suggested.
We inspect your teeth and gums at every appointment. Healthy gums appear pink and well contoured over the teeth, whereas unhealthy gums appear red, swollen, and irregular in shape. Clean teeth are free of debris whereas teeth that are not properly cleaned have visible plaque formation (white film containing bacteria). If plaque is left on a tooth long enough it may cause a white opaque discolouration on the tooth, which is the initial stage of dental decay.
We strongly recommend you visit your dentist’s office for regular professional cleanings of your teeth.
Refrain from biting on hard, chewy, or sticky foods.
The following is a list of the most common foods to avoid:
- Ice
- Corn on the cob
- Biting meat off ribs or bones (cut meat off instead)
- Cereals with nuts/granola
- Any type of nut
- Candy (hard chocolate, chewy gummy bears, taffy, etc.)
- Any whole hard fruit and carrots (cut them into pieces instead)
- Hard crusty bread, including pizza crusts
- Most hard cookies and chips
- Chewing on pencils or pens
(No Dentist Referral Required)
© 2023 Grand Oaks Orthodontics