When a patient is wearing braces, daily oral care becomes even more important than usual. While wearing braces, your teeth are more at risk of staining and developing cavities. That’s why it’s so important to follow the instructions of your orthodontist in Melbourne, FL when it comes to daily brushing, flossing, and even diet. Here is what your daily dental routine with braces should look like.

Daily Brushing Routine with Braces

Your teeth should be brushed two to three times every day. You should brush after every meal and even after having a snack. Pay special attention to the areas between the brackets and the gumline. Brushing should clear out any food debris that gets trapped between the teeth and brackets. Be sure to use a toothbrush that has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval.

Use toothpaste and brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes each time. The bristles should be placed flat against the teeth. Use small, circular motions to thoroughly brush the exposed surfaces. Next, tilt the brush toward the gumline and brush the area between your braces and the gums. Finish up by brushing the chewing surfaces on your teeth, followed by the backs of your top and bottom teeth.

Some additional tools that can be helpful for brushing with braces include an interdental brush, specialized orthodontic brushes, and a Waterpik. Interdental brushes are small brushes that fit in between the wire and your teeth, for brushing hard-to-reach places. Orthodontic brushes have long bristles on the edges and short brushes in the middle, which makes it easier for brushing around braces. A Waterpik can be used once a day to blast extra bits of food out from under your braces.

If you have any questions about proper brushing with braces, be sure to ask at the office of your Melbourne orthodontist.

Daily Flossing with Braces

If you can floss every time that you brush your teeth, that’s great! If not, then it’s still important that you floss your teeth at least once a day while wearing braces. Is easier than usual for small food particles to get wedged in your teeth with braces, so don’t neglect flossing.

Older kids can floss with a regular piece of dental floss each time, but a floss threader makes the job much easier. One end of the floss is pulled through the threader, and then the threader fits under the arch wire. The floss can then be grabbed at both ends and used to floss between the teeth and up under the gumline.

It is important to get all those bits of food and plaque out, so they’re not resting against your teeth and attracting bacteria all night. The end of the day can be the best time to use a Waterpik.

Your Diet and Your Dental Routine

Your diet becomes an extremely important part of your daily dental routine. There are certain foods you should avoid entirely, in order to protect your braces and your teeth.

Hard foods like candy, popcorn, raw fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots, and pizza crust should be avoided. Hard foods can bend the wires or even break your braces when you bite down.

Sticky foods like caramel, gummy worms, and other types of candies should be avoided as well. These can damage the braces and there’s a greater likelihood that bits of sticky food will get stuck to your teeth. Acidic items like sodas, oranges and lemons should be avoided, because they can stain the teeth around your brackets. Finally, avoid sugary foods and drinks because these can cause plaque to build up on your teeth.

You should visit your regular dentist a couple of times per year for a professional cleaning while you have braces.

Contact Melbourne Orthodontics about Braces

If you’re looking for an orthodontist for braces or other orthodontic treatment, Contact Us to schedule an appointment.