Waterpik Water Flossing With Braces – Braces Las Vegas

Braces are notoriously known for being hard to maintain as traditional metal or ceramic braces cannot be removed like Invisalign braces are capable of. This means that simple procedures such as brushing and flossing your teeth become slightly more difficult.

Regular string flossing is still recommended!

Truth is: many people do not understand how to properly floss with orthodontic appliances in their mouth. Special flossers exist to make the process easier, but sometime we just want something that is convenient and doesn’t require any special technique.

Waterpik® Flossing With Braces

Arguably one of the best ways to floss with braces, the Waterpik® is a tool that can be used at-home for a deeper clean than what standard dental floss offers. Both work very well, but the Waterpik’s pressurized stream of water penetrates deeper as it has the ability to remove biofilm – a substance that cannot be effectively removed through regular flossing and brushing. It can also penetrate deeper into our periodontal pockets, fending off periodontal disease while keeping our gums strong.

The reason the Waterpik® is simple for those with braces is because all you have to do is fill the machine with water, turn it on, and point it in the direction that you want to apply pressurized water too. The pressure is strong enough to remove any food particles stuck in between or around the wires and brackets without hassling with string.

Most water flossing devices may take some time to adjust to as there are varying levels of pressure certain machines can operate at. Always begin at the lowest setting and tweak it as needed. The pressure should be gentle on your teeth and gums, but strong enough to cause action. There are also a variety of tips that can be used, which offer different streams of water. It may take some experimentation to figure out which tip you prefer.

Don’t be alarmed if your gums bleed the first couple of times as you are new to the device and have not been exposed to pressurized water. As your gums heal and strengthen, you will see a drastic decrease in bleeding gums.

We Still Recommend Brushing and Flossing

The Waterpik® or any similar pressurized water flossing device is not meant to be a replacement for brushing. For the most part, it can effectively replace flossing, but using string flossing is still better at removing sticky plaque in between the teeth. You should always focus on brushing your teeth at least twice a day. You can read more about brushing with braces on our website.

Do You Actually Know What Dental Plaque Is? – Braces Las Vegas

Dental plaque is something we hear often, but most of us do not fully understand. Here’s an interesting fact: about 70% of the population suffers from dental disease. Why is this? The answer is simple: dental plaque.

The earlier you start, the easier the routine becomes.

This plaque begins from a chemical reaction in our mouth when our bodies break down food into carbohydrates as we’re chewing it. After this occurs, it begins to mix with the saliva in our mouth which creates an acid that can eat away at our teeth. This is why dentists often advise against sugary substances or other sources of carbohydrate consumption such as soft drinks, milk, pastries, etc. It causes our mouths to produce more of this “acid” that eats away at our teeth gradually over time. We’re not the only ones who enjoy sugar, our mouths love it too… for a different reason.

The Good News

The good news about dental plaque is during its beginning stages, it’s generally a soft substance that can be brushed away with a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

Here’s where it gets interesting. When you do not brush your teeth on a consistent basis, or you miss certain spots in your teeth that are hard to reach, then the dental plaque that has been sitting on your teeth begins to harden. This hardening process converts dental plaque into dental tartar, which is much harder to remove.

This is why visiting your Las Vegas dentist is important: to take care of the areas of your mouth that you had missed. The scraping aspect of a dental cleaning is your dentist literally scraping away this tartar that has formed on your teeth, preventing tooth decay.

Tooth decay is the main result of dental plaque build-up that has formed over time. Tooth decay is the beginning process that can lead to a slippery slope.

It’s literally impossible to have a plaque-free mouth daily, but by staying active in your dental regimen, we can keep our plaque levels down to a healthy minimum. Having braces or other orthodontic appliances does not serve as an excuse to dodge the routine. 

The Routine

·         Brush twice a day 

·         Floss at least once a day (preferably after every meal)

·         Consider using an antibacterial mouth rinse that aids in reducing plaque

·         Make sure to visit your dentist!

·         Watch what you eat (carbohydrates in particular, especially sugar)

 In short: dental plaque is the reason we brush our teeth, floss our teeth, and visit our dentist.

Brushing Your Teeth with Braces

Getting your braces on can feel strange. It will take some getting used to, but it will also be more challenging to clean. Brushing and flossing, is even more important when your have braces, so make sure you clean your teeth thoroughly as part of your daily hygiene routine.

We can help show how to properly brush and floss your teeth, to ensure that your teeth stay clean and healthy during your orthodontic treatment. To learn how to maintain the health of your smile and why it is so important, visit our page Brushing and Flossing with Braces.

Professional Teeth Cleanings with Braces

Having your teeth cleaned by a professional dental hygienist is important, especially for those who wear braces. Even without braces, you will never be able to clean your teeth with brushing and flossing as thoroughly as a professional cleaning. Hygienists use special tools that give your gums a deep cleaning, preventing decay and infections. With braces, it is especially important to remember your professional cleanings because your orthodontic appliances make some areas around the teeth almost impossible to clean. Learn more about how the treatment differs from a normal cleaning on out page.

Don't forget to schedule your professional cleanings every six months. It might help to schedule them during your adjustment sessions, this way the arch wire will be removed, your teeth can be cleaned, and a new wire can be put in, cutting down on your trips to the dentist.

Cleaning Your Teeth with Braces

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.