Maintaining your oral hygiene with braces can be difficult,
but is even more important since those with braces have a higher chance of
experiencing decay after their treatment is over. This happens because the
orthodontic appliances block areas normally exposed during brushing and
flossing. To ensure a thorough cleaning, follow these tips:
- Brush along the line of the wires and alternately along the tops of the wire and from below with the brush at a 90 degree angle. This helps get underneath the wires and closer to the brackets.
- Use special tools for cleaning around braces like interdental brushes and threaded floss to make your hygiene routine a little bit easier.
- Use mouthwashes with flouride after a thorough brushing to help prevent decay.
Keeping your teeth clean and free of decay also depends on
what you eat. Avoid eating sugary foods that can get stuck between teeth in
hard to reach areas. Nuts can also cause this problem, so if you do happen to
have foods that can lodge in between teeth, remember to floss as soon as
possible.
Braces tend to make cleaning your teeth a little bit more
challenging, but this should not cause you to skip out on any parts of a good
hygiene routine. Follow these cleaning tips and eat healthy foods to prevent
tooth decay. Visit our website for more details on how to clean your teeth with
braces.
