Best Ways To Brush And Floss With Braces
Brushing and flossing your teeth is all about creating a routine so it becomes a habit. When you have braces, sometimes brushing and flossing your teeth isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are no “extra” steps that you have to take in order to properly care for your teeth. You just need to make sure you are taking the proper steps.
With braces, you have to be more aware of your oral hygiene. It’s easier to get plaque build up which can lead to cavities and other oral issues. You also need to make sure your routine is consistent. For a healthy cleaning routine, you need to remember 3 things to properly clean out all the bacteria.
- Brush your teeth using correct angling. It’s important to know that you are brushing at the right angle to thoroughly clean your teeth.
- Floss or use a Waterpik regularly. You need to floss or Waterpik between each individual tooth and make sure you clean out all the bacteria.
- Use a good mouth rinse to cleanse any lingering bacteria
Braces are not an easy task to take care of. Your oral hygiene needs a little extra care when you have braces so that your teeth, gums, and body remain healthy.
Brushing At The Right Angle
When you brush your teeth you need to make sure you are aiming for a 45-degree angle towards your gums. Hold your brush up at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom.
Take your time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle at the gum line, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.
Brushing your teeth at an angle helps to get out all the grime that may be stuck on your teeth. When you brush your teeth without using proper angle techniques you can damage your gums or even leave some plaque behind.
Plaque is a sticky film that coats the teeth and contains bacteria that can penetrate the protective enamel of your teeth, attacking the more vulnerable layers underneath. This leads to cavities. If left untreated cavities can lead to dental infections and potentially tooth loss.
Practicing proper brushing techniques can help prevent plaque buildup. Braces can cause “hiding places” for plaque build-up. Just by having braces, you can have two to three times the amount of plaque as non-braces wearers. Not to fear! There are ways you can remove that plaque and build-up safely. Along with your proper brushing you need to use floss or a Waterpik to really get between each tooth to clean out any residual plaque.
Flossing Or Using A Waterpik
Flossing might seem like a huge pain when you have braces and that’s because…it is! You have to thread floss in between each tooth and make sure that you clean properly. One way you can avoid flossing between each tooth but still gets the job done is using a Waterpik. A Waterpik is a brand of water flosser or an oral irrigator that sprays water to remove food from between your teeth. With the power of the water shooting between your teeth it removes the plaque build-up just like floss would do.
For those who have braces, a Waterpik is clinically proven to be more effective than dental floss. Like regular flossing, a Waterpik or water flossing removes food stuck between your teeth and the bacteria lingering there before it hardens into plaque. Your toothbrush can’t get into those small spaces. Water flossing can also reduce gum disease and bleeding.
Waterpik especially helps those with braces reach some of the harder areas of their mouth with ease. With braces flossing can be painful and time-consuming, using a Waterpik can be more effective. When using a Waterpik correctly it shouldn’t take any longer than it takes you to brush your teeth. For best results, it’s recommended to start with the back teeth and work toward the front teeth. Continue until you have cleaned the inside and outside of both the upper and lower teeth. You want to focus on the top of your teeth, the gum line, and the spaces between each tooth. Remember to get the back of your teeth, too. This can help ensure that the entire mouth gets cleaned thoroughly. Waterpiks are fast and effective when it comes to cleaning between your teeth with braces. The last step in your new routine is to rinse out your mouth.
Mouth Rinse
Adding a mouth rinse to your oral hygiene not only makes your breath smell better it also helps prevent tooth decay. With braces, a mouth rinse can effectively get into and flush out any of the leftover bacteria from your brushing and flossing. It usually contains an antiseptic to kill harmful bacteria that can live between your teeth and on your tongue. When you do all of these steps it can not only make your mouth smell better but feel better as well. It can also help your next dental visit feel more enjoyable. Helping the dentists to not have to spend so much time scraping off the plaque from your braces.
Visit Us Today
If you are looking at getting braces or already have braces but want to improve your cleaning routine visit us today. At Snodgrass-King, we know a lot about braces and what kinds of cleaning routines and flossing techniques should be properly used. It is important to keep your mouth healthy so that you are staying healthy. We want to help you achieve the best kind of dental care you can. If you are curious about getting a Waterpik we can give you our top recommendations so that you can start getting the best deep clean you are looking for.
Our facilities have been sanitized from floor to ceiling, and we will continue to follow all ADA, CDC, and local health department guidelines. We understand the concern you may have regarding COVID-19 and want you to know that we share those concerns and are ensuring your safety in our offices. For more information on what to expect at your next appointment, visit our website at snodgrassking.com
Snodgrass-King Dental Associates has 5 locations across Middle Tennessee (Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Cool Springs). Contact us today to see if we can help jump-start and be a resource in you or your child’s healthy, dental lifestyle. We offer a variety of services for both children and adults. We can also address any orthodontic needs for children, teens, and adults. If you have any questions, call us today at (615) 771-1111.
