Good oral hygiene is crucial for dental health, especially when you have braces. You may think brushing as usual is enough, but it’s not. Bonding cement and metal brackets create obstacles that hide harmful plaque and bacteria. You may need to get creative to keep every surface of your teeth clean and protect your gums. If your child or teen has braces, now’s the perfect time to teach dental hygiene routines that’ll benefit them for life.
Did you know that one out of four braces wearers are over the age of 21? More adults are opting to get their teeth straightened and other corrections made, because of the effectiveness of both Invisalign and traditional braces. However, adults need the same guidance as teens when updating their dental hygiene routines. Flossing becomes even more important. It’s easier for kids to start and learn new habits, less so for adults. To make it easier, here are the most important dental hygiene tips for braces wearers:
Risks of Poor Dental Hygiene
If you don’t practice good dental hygiene while wearing braces, you could develop some unfortunate problems, one of which is gingivitis. The precursor to periodontitis or gum disease, gingivitis causes gums to swell and bleed. It can start with eating sugary foods and infrequent brushing. As plaque builds up, it gathers along the gum line. The bacteria in your mouth feeds on it and produces acid. Without proper cleaning, gingivitis leads to gum disease.
Braces wearers with poor dental hygiene may notice the appearance of stains and decalcifications. Since many parts of your teeth are hard to reach, they don’t get properly cleaned. Food, plaque, and acid sit on your teeth in these areas, causing yellowing or browning. You might not notice now, but when the braces come off you might be surprised at the appearance of your enamel.
One type of stain common to braces wearers are decalcifications. These are white spots that occur when acid from mouth bacteria steals essential minerals from the tooth enamel. The longer you wait between brushes, the thicker the plaque from bacteria becomes. Although saliva naturally remineralizes the teeth, thick plaque is more difficult to resolve. You can prevent “white spot” stains by keeping your teeth clean, and rinsing regularly with water immediately after meals. (Remember to brush 20 minutes later, and take some portable floss when going out, or have it on hand at work.)
Brushing Basics
Prepare to relearn some brushing techniques you thought you had mastered. Brushing with braces is a delicate (but crucial) skill. You must weave the brush bristles around the hardware without damaging them — or your gums. It can be tempting to brush hard and fast, but this will cause damage. Instead, use a soft-bristled brush to gently stroke each tooth. Hold it in different angles to reach the surfaces all around the brackets. This can take up to two minutes to clean your whole mouth properly.
Braces wearers should brush their teeth after every meal, when the acid has been washed from the teeth. That could mean, if you have braces, you’re adding an extra one or two brushings to your routine. You’ll need to replace your toothbrush more often than usual since it’s getting used more. Consider buying an electric toothbrush; they are generally gentler and more efficient at cleaning teeth with braces.
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
Now that you know to replace your brush (or brush heads) more frequently, you need to pick the right toothpaste. Dentists recommend toothpastes that contain fluoride because of its immense benefits for teeth. Fluoride is a mineral found in rocks and soil. When we apply it to our teeth, it remineralizes the enamel and makes it stronger. This helps them resist damage from acid-producing bacteria. Since braces can wear on tooth enamel, it’s important you take extra steps to strengthen your teeth. Using fluoride toothpaste is an easy habit to develop.
Use an Interdental Brush
Did your orthodontist give you a handful of cleaning tools for your braces? Chances are, hiding in that packet is an interdental brush. This is an important tool for picking food out of hard-to-reach places and maintaining the cleanliness of your teeth. It’s meant to be a complimentary step to your regular brushing.
In addition to picking out hard-to-reach food bits, interdental brushes help with flossing. Find the gap near the gumline where your teeth separate. By pushing the brush through that gap, you gently remove plaque from the gumline. You may notice some bleeding the first few times, but over time your gums will get stronger and healthier.
Floss Like a Boss
Speaking of cleaning between teeth, don’t forget to also include the old-fashioned string floss in your routine. You may need a special threader to floss; your orthodontist likely gave you a few when you first got your braces. Simply take a piece of string floss and loop it through the threader. Push the threader through the space between each tooth. Once the threader is through, you can grasp each side of the string and floss as usual. (Yes, it takes longer than flossing without braces. However, it’s a critical part of keeping your teeth clean and healthy!)
Choose the Right Foods
Keeping your teeth clean starts with what you put in your mouth. Your dental care team has probably told you to avoid candy (and for good reason). Refined sugar sits on teeth and wears down enamel, causing cavities. Candies that are chewy and sticky can get stuck in braces and even rip off portions of the hardware. Avoid this type of food. If you must have sugar, choose candies that don’t linger in your mouth (like lollipops and toffee).
It’s also important to avoid foods that cause acid production in your mouth. Candies are included in this group, as well as carbonated sodas. Soda often contains citric acids and phosphoric acids which destroy tooth enamel. Other foods high in acid are pineapples, tomatoes, and salsa. Try to avoid these if you can; or, make sure you rinse and brush your teeth after eating.
There are plenty of foods that benefit your teeth and your dentist encourages you to eat. Fruits and vegetables rich in fiber are excellent for mouth health and overall wellness. These foods get saliva flowing which naturally rinses your mouth out. The saliva production process restores certain minerals back into the teeth. Another saliva-producer is cheese. The calcium in cheese boosts tooth and gum strength. Consider drinking green and black teas instead of coffee. Not only are they natural caffeinators, they contain polyphenols which halt acid-making bacteria.
More Frequent Cleanings
If you follow these tips, you’ll keep your teeth clean and strong while your braces are on. However, it’s wise to ask if you should get more frequent cleanings from your dental hygienist during this time. There are parts of your mouth and teeth that you can’t see in the mirror. You may think you’re reaching every surface, but you could be missing some important areas. An excellent hygienist can assess your teeth and tell you where you need to focus.
Your dental health team is here to encourage you in your braces experience and guide you through the process to straighter, healthier teeth.
Since 2000, Clearbrook Dental has provided caring, professional dentistry in the Oshawa region. Using the newest technologies and innovations, we carefully assess each patient’s unique dental needs. From cleanings to orthodontics, we ensure each patient has a customized plan. We also provide fillings, dentures, root canal therapy, sedation, and more. To inquire about traditional and Invisalign orthodontics or to book a dental hygiene appointment, send us a message or give us a call today: (905) 434- 4244.