Having a clean mouth is important. It gives you fresh breath and a nicer-looking smile. Brushing and flossing removes a thin sticky film of bacteria that grows on your teeth. This sticky film, called plaque, is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food becomes caught in the brackets and between your teeth. Brushing after meals and flossing will help prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. Here’s a few things you need to know to make brushing a little easier.
Types of toothbrush you can use:
Soft toothbrush
- Soft toothbrushes are toothbrushes with soft bristles. When shopping for a toothbrush you will notice they are labeled either “extra soft,” “soft,” “medium,” or “hard.” Extra soft is your best option for braces.
Electric toothbrush
- An electric toothbrush, also known a power toothbrush, either battery powered or the kind you plug into the wall to recharge. Electronic toothbrushes clean teeth more effectively than traditional ones. Since you don't need to brush as hard with an electric toothbrush to get the same results, you are also less likely to injure your gums or inner cheeks.
How to brush: [source: oralb.com]
- Prepare to brush. Take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
- Clean your braces. Use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. (Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.)
- Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, 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.
Remember you must see your dentist twice a year for your regular dental cleanings. If you are having any trouble brushing your teeth let us know about it during your next visit or give us a call.
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