Talking to Your Dentist About Oral Hygiene with Braces

Braces help to correct crooked, overcrowded teeth or jaw malocclusion. The benefits of braces are many, including better teeth function and a straighter and attractive smile. After receiving the braces, the dentist will provide specific care instructions. With the new brackets on the teeth, cleaning your teeth will not be as straightforward as before. The guidelines may appear overwhelming initially, but oral hygiene with braces is not so complicated. This article focuses on the discussion you should have with your dentist about oral hygiene after getting braces.

Oral hygiene and braces

Oral hygiene is crucial for everyone wearing braces. Food debris will get trapped easily under the braces, which means it is necessary to brush carefully. To properly clean the teeth, brace wearers need to move the toothbrush in short circular movements to eliminate all the food particles hiding under the gum line. Holing the brush at a slight angle, take the time to clean the surface of every tooth and between the braces.

The dentist will recommend brushing at least four times daily –– in the morning, after lunch, after dinner and before bedtime. The bristles of the toothbrush will deteriorate faster than usual, so wearers will have to change their toothbrush more often.

Flossing

For every brace wearer, flossing is important to remove plaque and food debris that cannot be reached by the toothbrush. The dentist will recommend the best type of floss to use based on the patient’s condition. For instance, the dentist may suggest Waterpik instead of thread flosser. Patients should floss at least a day. It is normal to experience bleeding of the gums when first flossing. If the bleeding persists after a couple of flossing sessions, the patient will have to reach out to the dentist for advice.

Another way to strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth cavities is to rinse the mouth with fluoride and antibacterial mouthwash. The dentist will recommend the best type of mouthwash to use. They may also recommend a prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste if needed.

Foods to avoid

To keep the teeth and braces safe, patients must avoid certain foods such as sticky and hard foods. Such foods can break or loosen the wires and the bracket or even harm the teeth. To prevent damages while eating, cut crunchier foods like carrots and apples into small pieces before eating. Avoid consuming sugary foods because they can lead to tooth decay and cavities.

The general dentist will advise the patient to brush their teeth thoroughly after eating. When food particles get stuck between the teeth and braces, they may be harder to remove, and the longer they stay, the higher the risk of getting tooth decay.

Patients need to schedule regular appointments with the dentist so they can monitor the condition of the teeth and gums throughout the teeth-straightening process. The risk of gum disease and tooth decay is remarkably higher when wearing braces if patients do not practice good oral hygiene.

Final note

To learn more about how to take care of your teeth and maintain good oral hygiene while wearing braces, feel free to book an appointment with the dentist.

Request an appointment here: or call Gilroy Dental Associates at (408) 842-2818 for an appointment in our Gilroy office.

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