Why is Oral Hygiene Important While Wearing Braces?
At The Best Braces, our team continuously stresses the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene. It is important for patients to realize the care they put into their oral health while wearing braces can affect the health of their teeth for many years to come. Lack of oral hygiene can greatly disrupt your current treatment plan and lead to complications, emergencies, and additional treatment time.
Clean Today to Avoid Damage Tomorrow
We know that it can become a little redundant to constantly hear about cleaning your teeth and braces; however, lack of oral hygiene can lead to serious problems in your mouth. Brackets, wires, and other hardware seem to be a magnet for trapped food. This leads to an increase in bacteria and the likelihood of developing decay. Decay that is detected during orthodontic care can result in hardware being removed for the tooth to be treated, lengthening and complicating your treatment.
Patients can also experience large numbers of cavities following the removal of braces because decay develops under the brackets. Patients who do not clean their teeth properly are also prone to experiencing white scars on the teeth as well as gum disease. Permanent staining of the teeth can also occur. These issues can lead to lasting dental problems for many years to come.
Proper Ways to Clean Braces
Although time consuming, it is not difficult to care for your braces. Taking the time now ensures that you have a beautiful, healthy smile when you have completed your orthodontic treatment. It is extremely important to be sure that you brush your teeth after every meal. Your toothbrush should be your best friend while undergoing orthodontic treatment. It is also important to be sure that you are flossing every night, paying careful attention to your brackets and wires. Some simple cleaning tips include:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Brush each tooth slowly, paying close attention to cleaning the top and bottom of each bracket
- Angle the bristles as needed to best clean teeth
- Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth
- Floss nightly and finish with mouthwash
Don’t forget to brush thoroughly, even if you are uncomfortable after an adjustment. If you have any questions about the proper way to clean your teeth, please contact our office located in Southfield, MI. We are happy to help!