Modern medical innovations have made our lives much safer and easier than ever before. On that note, the invention of braces has greatly allowed us to give our teeth a second chance at life. It can often be a bit of a hassle to brush and floss with pieces of metal stuck to the surface of your teeth, but you’ll be able to master a new and improved oral hygiene routine in no time.
Brushing With Braces
It’s important never to go a day or two without properly brushing. Otherwise, you’re only going to end up with several dental problems after just a few days. Painful cavities can form due to accumulated bacteria and plaque. White spots can also appear on the surface of teeth due to calcium deficiencies. Not only that, but you’ll also have to deal with nasty gum problems and dental calculus.
The proper way to brush with braces is to first gargle with mouthwash or water. This will help wash out any food debris stuck to metal brackets and other hard-to-brush areas. After that, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and begin brushing the gum line. Next, carefully brush around your metal brackets and wires. Be sure to brush above and below the brackets to clean your teeth as thoroughly as possible.
Most dentists recommend brushing twice a day for 2 minutes. If possible, do try to also brush after snacking or eating a heavy meal. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are the best tools to use for the job since they can clean teeth without damaging any enamel. In addition to that, you can also use interdental toothbrushes to scrub off any dirt and bacteria that you might have missed.
Dental scalers are also great tools to use for cleaning the surfaces of teeth and the gum line. They’re designed to be as thin and flexible as possible, so you won’t have a tough time maneuvering them around metal brackets and wires. You can purchase a top-quality dental scaler off our online shop and see great results for yourself!
Flossing With Braces
Flossing is another important step to good oral hygiene. Forgetting to floss after brushing usually leads to swollen and receded gums, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health problems.
You only need to floss once a day if you’ve got braces on. It might seem pretty tricky to floss with all those wires in the way at first, but you’ll be able to get the hang of it with enough practice and determination.
If you plan to floss the traditional way, you’re going to have to use waxed floss. It’s much thicker and stronger than unwaxed floss, so it won’t snap or break apart while you’re maneuvering it around your braces. You’ll need to carefully thread the floss behind your brace wires, then gently move it up and down to remove any food debris and dirt. After that, you’ll need to slide the floss between your teeth then move it up and down again. After around 10-15 minutes, your teeth and gums will be as good as new.
You can also use floss threaders to make traditional flossing much easier. Simply insert it behind your brace wires, thread your floss through, and enjoy cleaning your gums in a faster and more efficient way.
Water flossers are another great tool that can help you clean your teeth and gums without too much trouble. All you need to do is fill the reservoir with enough warm water, aim the tip at your gum line, and spray away any dirt, plaque, and bacteria. Though this isn’t really a viable replacement for traditional flossing, it can still help remove any nasties that your toothbrush and floss might have missed.
Don’t Forget To Visit Your Dentist!
People with and without braces can all greatly benefit from visiting their dentist every six months. Your dentist will be able to check whether or not your braces are doing their job well, as well as take care of any oral hygiene issues that you might have missed. They’ll also need to adjust your braces if they’re starting to move or bend a little too out of place. Don’t worry, this procedure is usually easy and painless.
DIY braces have been popping up on social media platforms here and there. Though they might seem like a cheap and easy alternative to regular braces, they’re also incredibly unhygienic and unsafe. Take note that regular braces are pricier because they’re made with special materials designed to be safe for your oral and physical health. DIY braces, on the other hand, typically use household materials, such as rubber bands and super glue. If you don't want to spend even more on emergency repairs for your teeth, you should let your dentist handle things instead.