Having braces can be exciting, especially if you’ve always wanted to have a healthy, straight smile. However, caring for braces correctly can take a little bit extra work and effort than you’re used to. Here are a few things that you need to know to help you to keep your teeth clean when you have braces.
Brush Your Teeth
First off, you need to make sure that you are brushing your teeth multiple times a day. It is important to brush your teeth after every meal, especially when you have braces, because food particles can easily get stuck in your braces. If you let food get stuck on your teeth for too long, it can form bacteria, plaque, and even cavities. However, brushing your teeth with braces isn’t as easy as you might think. The braces and wires can get in the way of your toothbrush. So, you want to make sure that you use a toothbrush that is soft so you don’t irritate your gums.
Spend Time Flossing
Next, you need to make sure that you spend sufficient time flossing each day. Flossing can be difficult because your wires and brackets get in the way of a normal flossing tool. You might need to use floss picks to reach food particles that brushing can get rid of. Floss threaders can also be a useful tool, since they’ll allow you to thread floss under your braces wires. Another option that you could use is a waterpik water flosser. Water flossers clean your teeth with a concentrated stream of water, which can be a lot less tedious than normal floss.
Avoid Certain Foods
As your orthodontist has probably told you, there are certain foods that you should avoid when you have braces. Starchy, sugary, sticky foods can cause a lot of problems for the cleanliness of your teeth. Not only can they be difficult to get out of the wires and brackets of your braces, but they can also get stuck in the little cracks of your teeth that can be hard to reach. By avoiding these types of foods, you can keep your teeth cleaner and avoid infections and bacteria.
Make sure that you don’t forget these important tips that will help you to keep your teeth clean with braces. Even though it might be difficult to get used to the extra effort that it will take to keep your teeth clean, it will be worth it. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful, straight, healthy smile.
Check out this article on how to make brushing more enjoyable for kids!
