Oral hygiene is key to ensuring that the teeth and gums are healthy during braces treatment. A good oral hygiene routine can also prevent food buildup that attracts harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. We provide comprehensive orthodontic services to our new and existing patients. Here, we will review oral hygiene tips to follow when you receive braces from Children’s Dental Specialties in Worcester, MA.
Oral Hygiene with Braces in Worcester, MA
Our dental office will provide your child with instructions on how to clean their aligners or braces best. It’s also important to keep these tips in mind to help your child or teenager keep their teeth and gums healthy behind their braces:
Metal Braces
It is often more difficult to remove bits of food from braces, which is why proper oral hygiene techniques are important. Learn how to brush, floss, and avoid foods that can damage your braces below:
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
When brushing your braces, brush back and forth between the wires and gums. Then, brush as if you had no braces, starting outside of the upper teeth. Brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gums.
Continue to brush, now in a circular motion, first on the outside of the upper teeth to the chewing surfaces and back of the teeth. Repeat this process on the lower teeth. Make sure that there are no food particles stuck in your braces after you brush. Use a floss threader to floss between your braces at least once a day.
Diet
Avoid hard, crunchy, tough, and sticky foods that can get caught in your braces, such as:
- Hard candy
- Corn chips
- Bagels
- Caramel
- Gum
- Pizza Crust
You can cut some foods like pears, celery, pizza, apples, and carrots into smaller pieces and chew them with your back teeth.
Clear Braces
One of the best advantages of Invisalign aligners is that they are removable. This means that patients can brush their teeth normally and clean their aligners separately.
Patients can use a manual or electric toothbrush on their teeth after they remove their aligners. Manual toothbrushes require patients to brush in circular motions, while electric toothbrushes move on their own. When brushing, we recommend that patients brush at a 45-degree angle, starting at the gum line and moving to each tooth, making their way to the chewing surfaces and behind the teeth.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, liquid soap, and lukewarm water to clean your Invisalign aligners. Then, rinse your aligners before placing them back on your teeth.
Retainers
We recommend that patients wear retainers after orthodontic treatment to keep their teeth straight. You can clean your retainer with toothpaste and cool water. If you have a lower fixed retainer, be careful when brushing the wire and the inside of the lower teeth. Avoid flipping the retainer with your tongue, as this can damage your teeth.
When you remove your retainer, place it in its case and do not wrap it in a napkin or tissue. Do not place the retainer in your pocket or use excessive heat because you can break or damage your retainer. Remember to bring your retainer with you to each dental appointment.
Contact Our Pediatric Dental Office
Do you or your child have any questions about caring for braces? Call Children’s Dental Specialties today at (508) 625-5534. If you need to schedule a dental appointment, you can do so on our website.