Orthodontic treatment, such as traditional metal braces and transparent aligners, is a worthwhile investment because it straightens your teeth and improves your smile confidence.
Brushing your teeth after each meal is recommended by dentists and orthodontists to remove small pieces of food lodged between your teeth and avoid plaque formation.
Maintaining good oral hygiene will help keep your teeth strong and healthy during treatment.
Below are the top hygiene orthodontics tips when you have braces.
1. Brushing after snacks and meals is a good idea.
Brushing is still the best way to keep your teeth healthy, but you’ll need to step it up a notch and utilize some extra tools to get into those hard-to-reach places.
Let’s start with the basics: wash your teeth after each meal. The two-minute rule still applies, but in addition to scrubbing your gumline, you’ll need to carefully brush on top of and below the brackets.
2. Brush Four Times a Day
While you may be accustomed to brushing twice a day, while you wear braces, you should brush 4 times. This is because braces have a lot of crevices where food particles and decay-causing bacteria can get stuck.
Brushing four times during the day, once after each meal and once before bedtime, is recommended to combat this.
3. Flossing is also recommended daily.
Food can get lodged between your teeth in the same way it can get stuck in your braces. This is why flossing every day is so vital for removing any stuck food particles. Because flossing with braces can be difficult, we recommend using a floss threader if you need a little help.
4. Drink Lots of Water
One of the best things you can do for your mouth is to drink enough water.
Water has numerous advantages, like keeping your mouth clean, preventing cavities, neutralizing acid in your mouth, and even preventing bad breath.
While many drinks (soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices, etc.) contain sugar or acid that might harm your teeth, water is always the healthiest option.