Together we can make that happen, but first your braces will take a little extra care. Brushing will take a little longer, and your diet will need some modifying. With the extra effort you give to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy, your orthodontic treatment outcome will be the best that it can be.
Dental hygiene during treatment
As you eat, your teeth, braces and appliances collect food. If food is left on teeth overnight, a thick plaque forms on the teeth and gums. Plaque causes bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. Bleeding and swollen gums are sure signs that plaque is not being properly removed. If you do not remove the plaque, your teeth will not move as easily, you will experience more discomfort during your treatment and white spots or decay will form on the teeth under and around the braces and appliances.
Tooth brushing
- Always use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle so that you feel the bristles under your gum line and use small circular motions.
- Completely clean each surface of every tooth, including the areas above, below and between the brackets — and the inside of each tooth as well.
- The surface of every tooth should be brushed for about 10 seconds; it should take at least 4-5 minutes each time you brush.
- Always brush in the morning and at night, and try to brush after each meal or at least rinse well with water.
- Use a fluoride mouth rinse at least once per day.
Proxy toothbrush
An interdental toothbrush (Proxabrush) is another aid you may find useful to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy. It can be used to clean under and around orthodontic wires and braces. Use this device gently between each of the brackets so you do not damage your braces or injure your gum tissue.
Dental flossing
Flossing with braces is more important and more difficult than flossing without braces. The best time to floss is before bedtime after brushing to remove the plaque missed by brushing. SuperFloss by Oral B is the recommended floss for patients with braces. Pass the stiff end of the floss under the wire between two teeth, make a "C-shape" against the brace on each side with the spongy part, then carefully pass the normal floss end through the contact between the two teeth. Floss at least once per day and be careful not to pull with too much force on your archwire or brackets.
Fluoride products
For all our patients, we recommend the use of over-the-counter fluoride toothpaste and rinses. We recommend that you swish with fluoride rinse for at least one minute at bedtime. Drinking and eating are not recommended for thirty minutes after using the rinse, since doing so would dilute or rinse away the active ingredient. Fluoride rinses are not a substitute for toothpaste.
Electric toothbrush and Waterpik
Studies have shown that mechanical toothbrushes are more effective at plaque removal around orthodontic braces than manual toothbrushes, although a diligent brusher and flosser can achieve the same results. We also recommend the use of a Waterpik to loosen food and plaque before brushing and flossing, used on the lower water pressure settings so the gum tissue is not excessively irritated. Please ask our staff for more information.
