Whether you’re a pre-teen, teen or adult who has just been fitted for ceramic or clear braces in Idaho Falls, it’s important to understand that you’ll be brushing and flossing your teeth in a whole new way than what you’re used to. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been brushing and flossing your teeth everyday for the last fifty years, braces add a different element to oral hygiene and it’s up to you to take care of and properly maintain your investment, a.k.a your teeth. This article discusses why it’s important to take care of your braces and teeth, how to brush, floss and what foods to avoid while you wear ceramic braces in Idaho Falls to maintain the longevity of your braces.
The Importance of Brushing with Braces
Brushing with braces in Idaho Falls is just as important as brushing without, if not more so. Both ceramic and clear braces are the optimal choice of orthodontists in Idaho Falls to create a beautiful straight smile. However, if you don’t keep up with daily brushing and flossing, you could potentially wind up with such oral issues as, inflamed gums (gingivitis), tooth decay, and tooth decalcification- all of which are not ideal for creating a beautiful and healthy smile.
Improper care of your braces and teeth can lead to infected gum tissue, cavities and discoloration of the teeth. Now if you’ve spent all this money to correct your smile, we will assume these type of dental maladies are not what you are looking forward to when the time come for you to have your braces removed.
That’s why orthodontists stress the care and maintenance of brushing and flossing properly. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to keep your mouth healthy. Below are helpful tips for brushing and flossing your teeth and maintaining your Idaho Falls ceramic braces.
Maintaining Your Braces
Before we discuss the proper ways to clean your teeth and braces via daily brushing and flossing, it’s important to note the proper steps to take in order to maintain your braces, so you don’t end up with more bills from the orthodontist in order to fix every broken bracket you run into. Of course, brushing and flossing are the most important of ceramic brace maintenance, but other things to consider include:
- Follow the instructions given to you by your Idaho Falls orthodontist. Once your braces are in place an orthodontist like Randall orthodontics, will give you instructions on when and how to place rubber bands and wax, along with a demonstration of how to brush and floss with your new braces.
- Avoid foods that can have a detrimental impact on your teeth and braces. Usually food that is extremely hard, chewy, sticky and sugary are best avoided when you have braces. Don’t worry though, you’ll be able to enjoy these foods very soon once your Idaho Falls ceramic braces are removed.
How To Brush With Braces
Brushing your teeth with braces is very similar to brushing without, except for a few techniques and tools that vary. Here are the most important tips to keeping your smile healthy while you wear braces:
- Brush Your Teeth and Braces EVERYDAY – At least twice a day you should be brushing both your teeth and braces. One of the reasons that brushing is so vital to your oral health is because gingivitis can form in just 48 hours! According to the American Dental Association and Randall Orthodontics, it’s important (especially if you have braces) to brush your teeth in the morning, after every meal and before you go to sleep. Here is how to correctly brush your teeth if you have braces:
- Use water to rinse your mouth out to break up and loosen food particles before brushing.
- Similarly, rinse your toothbrush with hot water to rinse off any bacteria and food particles from the bristles before applying toothpaste.
- When brushing hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
- Using short strokes use a gentle back and forth motion on the inner and outer surfaces of teeth, gums, and between the wiring and teeth.
- You should aim to brush your teeth between two to three minutes. Either set a time or brush for the entire length of a song.
- Don’t forget to brush your tongue! By brushing your tongue you are helping to remove additional bacteria, thus promoting fresh breath.
- If your orthodontist has prescribed fluoride mouthwash, use that also.
- Use The Right Tools – Your orthodontist will recommend certain tools and products that are better suited for brushing your ceramic braces in Idaho Falls, then just a regular toothbrush and floss. For example, a proxabrush is best suited for getting food and other particles out from the wires of braces and between teeth.
Don’t Over Brush Your Teeth and/or Braces – Overbrushing, also known as toothbrush abrasion is a real thing and can lead to overly sensitive teeth in addition to receding gums. Using proper technique and brushing only when appropriate is the best way to prevent this type of damage.
How to Floss With Braces
Flossing is just as important as taking proper care of your oral hygiene as brushing your teeth. Just like brushing, flossing with ceramic braces in Idaho Falls should be done using proper technique and at appropriate times. However, flossing with braces can prove to be rather difficult and frustrating at times- don’t let that discourage you! Armed with the following tips you will be able to properly floss your teeth with braces in no time. It does take some time and if you need additional help be sure to let your orthodontist know. He or she will be more than happy to show you the proper way to floss with your new braces.
Flossing Quick Tips:
- Use The Right Tool – Use a floss threader (your orthodontist will most likely supply you with these) in order to get into those tricky spots, where normal flossing would miss.
- Use Waxed Floss – Floss that is unwaxed is more likely to catch on braces and leave remnants of floss behind. To avoid this annoying issue, use waxed floss with your orthodontic floss threader.
The Right Way to Floss with Braces
Using your orthodontic floss threading follow these steps from Jordan Orthodontics, to achieve proper flossing technique:
- Thread the floss under the arch-wire.
- Remove the threader.
- Floss each side of each tooth in the space.
- Pull the floss out of the space with one hand as you release the floss with your other hand.
- Repeat this method between all of your teeth.
Remember to always floss at the end of the day, that way you won’t leave any lingering food particles behind to stay in your mouth while you sleep.
In addition to properly brushing and flossing your Idaho Falls ceramic braces, you should also make sure to have regular professional checkups and cleanings performed by your Randall Orthodontics specialist.
By scheduling these appointments your orthodontist will ensure that you are taking the appropriate steps in order to keep your teeth healthy and happy. Contact us today, if you have any questions concerning your ceramic or invisible braces in Idaho Falls.
