How To Brush With Braces
You understand the importance of brushing and flossing your teeth to rid your mouth of lingering food and bacteria. Proper oral hygiene is necessary to prevent problems with your oral health, such as dental decay and gum disease. When you start orthodontic treatment, caring for your teeth becomes even more critical. Not only do you have to clean your teeth, but you also have to navigate around hardware and ensure that your teeth and the hardware are being cleaned properly. Even though we review this in the office, we want to share some helpful tips on how to clean your teeth correctly while receiving orthodontic treatment. Read on to learn more.
Proper Brushing Techniques When You Have Braces
Proper brushing technique should always be used, whether you wear braces or not. Improper brushing can lead to problems with tooth enamel and cause damage to your gums. How you brush your teeth becomes even more important when you are wearing braces or other orthodontic hardware because there are more nooks and crannies for food particles and bacteria to hide in. We want to share some helpful techniques to ensure you are brushing properly.
Gather Necessary Materials
When brushing, you need to make sure you have an appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste. It helps to have interdental brushes, floss, and dental picks to help remove food from hard-to-reach places.
Rinse and Check
Before you begin, rinse your mouth with water to remove any loose food particles. Each time you brush, it is important to check your teeth carefully for places where food is trapped or damaged wires or brackets. A small hand-held mirror is helpful for this step.
Brush Your Teeth
Be sure to use gentle circular motions and brush at a 45-degree angle. Clean every side of each tooth. Don’t forget to brush your gums and clean between the wires and brackets with smaller tools.
If you have any other questions about how to properly clean your teeth or are experiencing a problem or complication with your orthodontic hardware, be sure to contact our office, which is located in Southfield, MI, to schedule an appointment. We will see you at your next visit to our office.
