After your first visit with Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics, you are on your way to a healthy and beautiful smile. Whether you opt for braces or Invisalign teen or adult treatment, your orthodontist will instruct you on how to properly care for your orthodontic appliances and mouth during treatment. You may need to make some changes to your oral hygiene while you have braces.
Good Oral Hygiene Is Essential for Braces and Invisalign
To get the best results from your braces or Invisalign orthodontic treatment, you and your orthodontist need to work together. While we are applying the treatments to correct your smile, you are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping your appliances clean and intact.
Without good oral care, tooth decay and other problems may emerge during treatment. These can significantly hinder your treatment progress. Below is some helpful information to make keeping your mouth healthy with braces or Invisalign as easy as possible.
Proper Brushing Is Even More Important With Braces
During your orthodontic treatment, good brushing habits are more important than ever. Of course, the appliances, especially braces, can make this difficult.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or bi-level brush, which has shorter bristles in the middle. You can continue to use an electric toothbrush as long as you are careful and only use a medium setting at most.
We recommend brushing with fluoride toothpaste after every meal and at bedtime. Food can easily get stuck in braces, so cleaning after each meal is optimal. Brush for two minutes, covering every tooth surface as well as the around in and around your braces.
Try brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth in gentle, circular motions. Then, angle the brush towards your gumline and brush the areas between the braces and gums. Finally, brush the inside surfaces of your teeth as you normally would.
Special Tools For Cleaning Braces
Cleaning around orthodontic appliances isn’t always easy. Your orthodontist will point you towards some special tools that you can pick up at most pharmacies. One is a brushing tool that looks like a pipe cleaner. Another useful tool is a water pick or oral irrigator. This tool shoots a stream of water to clean your teeth. It is a gentler version of a toothpick.
Flossing With Braces
Flossing with orthodontic appliances can be challenging. Try using a floss threader to help pass the floss under the arch wire, then slide the floss up and down to clean the sides of the teeth. Try to floss at least once per day, ideally before bedtime.
Contact Us
Contact Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics if you have any questions. Or set up an appointment to speak with an orthodontist about braces or Invisalign teen or adult treatment.