Braces & Your Oral Hygiene Routine

While wearing braces, it can be difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene. It can be crucial to use special tools that can help make your oral hygiene routine efficient and easy.

Brushing

While many think that firm bristles are best, it is recommended to use soft or bi-level brushes since bristles that are too firm can inadvertently cause harm to the enamel if used too hard. Brushing basics with an electric toothbrush: be sure it has a low power setting since the vibrations can pass to the wire if the back of the toothbrush hits a bracket, which is not a comfortable feeling.

Best Practices

Always make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes each session and use toothpaste with fluoride. Ensure you brush all teeth surfaces and be especially careful around the brackets and wire. Food particles love to get trapped there and cause issues.

Special Oral Hygiene Tools

To make oral hygiene a breeze, it is highly recommended to incorporate at least one special oral hygiene tool into your brushing routine. One of the best, and most popular, options is a Water Pik. It works by shooting a thin stream of water at your teeth. By pressurizing the water, it makes it a very effective method of dislodging debris that gets trapped in hard to reach places. Another very popular option is interdental toothbrushes, also called proxabrushes. They look like small and firm pipe cleaners with dental bristles. They are very effective for getting between the wires and teeth. Travel sized versions are also available, which is great for when you are on the go and need to dislodge food after eating out at a restaurant.

While straightening your teeth, it is vital to keep them clean. Remember that healthy smiles last a lifetime.