Oral Hygiene Tips With Braces

Oral hygiene with braces is not easy to maintain. But keeping your teeth and brackets clean is essential for both successful treatment and the prevention of oral health problems such as cavities and gingivitis.

A person with braces or other orthodontic appliances will need to put a lot of effort into maintaining oral hygiene, especially if the brace is fixed. To get proper dental hygiene, it takes a long time and utensils.

Fortunately, the principles of proper dental hygiene when wearing braces are quite simple. These are easy actions that, while taking longer than usual, guarantee that you will not suffer from additional problems in the future. Below, we will explain the seven steps needed to have good oral hygiene with braces.

Oral hygiene tips with dental braces

1. Brushing your teeth with a toothbrush

The most important measure for proper dental hygiene with braces is brushing your teeth. You should brush your teeth at least three times a day. However, it is recommended to brush your teeth even after eating or drinking any food or drink that contains sugar.

2. Choosing the toothbrush

There are special toothbrushes for oral hygiene with braces. They are designed in a V-shape to be able to clean the areas next to the dental appliance.

Many experts believe that it is best to use an electric toothbrush. The best electric toothbrushes are rechargeable and have an oscillating technology. In addition, you must choose a head specially designed for braces. If the toothbrush has a pressure sensor, it’s even better. This will prevent you from applying excessive pressure and damaging your braces.

3. Toothpaste

As a general rule, it is best to use fluoride toothpaste, as this will help you protect your teeth from cavities, without having too harsh an action on them. Abrasive toothpaste is not recommended at all, as it tends to damage tooth enamel and braces.

If you have another oral health problem, such as halitosis or gingivitis, first consult your dentist to find out the type of toothpaste you should use. However, don’t forget that toothpaste is just an adjuvant. Proper brushing is the most important thing.

4. Dental floss

Yes, flossing is of major importance. Dental floss allows you to reach the interdental spaces to obtain adequate oral hygiene with braces. However, when you wear braces, no matter how well you brush your teeth, you will still miss some hard-to-reach areas.

Due to the braces, small food debris may remain on the teeth, which you do not notice. It is best to use waxed dental floss with an attached handle. It moves the thread up and down very easily. Then focus on the interdental spaces.

5. Bacterial plaque detectors

6. Mouthwash

Mouthwash is essential for those who wear braces. It is used after brushing teeth. Its main function is to eliminate bacteria and other microorganisms from the oral cavity.

Some mouthwashes are designed specifically for people with braces because they do not damage this device. In any case, a mouthwash with fluoride always helps to protect tooth enamel.

7. Oral irrigator

Conclusion

If you wear braces, you need to pay close attention to oral hygiene. Therefore, it is recommended to improve your brushing technique, to choose specially designed toothbrushes, to floss daily and to rinse with mouthwash after each brushing. It is also essential to go to the dentist regularly to check the evolution of the teeth and the condition of the dental appliance.