While orthodontic treatments like braces can be very annoying at times due to diet restrictions and the added difficulty cleaning your teeth, they are completely worth it when you consider all the health issues it helps you avoid. From reducing the possibility of gum disease to fixing speech impediments, orthodontic treatments give their patients new life with a better aesthetic look and better dental health.
How to Thoroughly Clean My Teeth While Wearing Braces?
During your Centennial braces orthodontic treatment, more than ever, you’ll need to be careful to maintain proper oral hygiene in Centennial. Failure to do so can result in severe complications for your oral health. From tooth loss and tooth decay to gum disease and white spots on your teeth, the consequences of a lack of proper oral hygiene and cleaning method can be more severe than you might imagine.
Before giving you some guidelines on how to brush your teeth thoroughly, however, you must first understand that to have a proper cleaning routine, you must do it constantly. While you may have a very thorough method, it won’t matter if you don’t brush your teeth daily, at least twice a day. The best thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy during your Centennial orthodontic treatment is to make brushing your teeth an oral hygiene habit.
Here are a few tips for you to consider when maintaining oral hygiene.
Make Sure to Cover All Surfaces
You’ll want to angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, pointing towards your brackets. In this position, brush along your gumline to remove any plaque or food residue accumulated. Then, proceed to brush the top part of each metal bracket along the row of teeth. Proceed to make the opposite motion for the lower side of the brackets. After that, gently push your toothbrush on top of your bracket and brush them as well. Remember to always brush in a circular motion.
You will also need to brush the biting part of your teeth and your tongue. The whole process must last at least two minutes, so take your time on each tooth to make sure you clean the entirety of its surface.
Use the Right Tools
We have already mentioned the steps for proper tooth brushing practices, but we haven’t talked about how to use floss properly when many metal wires and pieces are interrupting the way. The simplest solution for most people is to buy a floss threader.
The floss threader looks like a big plastic needle, and it also works similarly to one, without the going-through fabric part, of course. You just need to pass the floss through it and then thread the small needle head under the braces’ metal wire and behind your teeth. Once you have successfully passed the floss, you are ready to clean the interdental space as usual.
Additionally, you may find using an interdental toothbrush to be easier to use and more effective. The special toothbrush has a cone-shaped that goes into the interdental space to remove any plaque or bacteria remaining.
As a last recommendation, don’t forget to use a soft-bristled toothbrush for your regular brushing and a tooth past that uses fluoride in its formula.
Have Regular Checkups
Last but not least, don’t forget to check with your orthodontist and your dentist every once in a while during your orthodontic treatment. While, as an orthodontic patient, you’ll see your orthodontist every few weeks for adjustment sessions, it’s important to visit your general dentist every once in a while for a checkup and a professional cleaning.
How to Avoid Stains in Clear Ceramic Braces in Centennial?
The simple answer is to stay away from foods and drinks that can stain your Clarity™ Ceramic Braces in Centennial. Wine, coffee, sodas, smoking, and even tomatoes and mustard can all stain your braces. Many orthodontic patients don’t realize this and go through their whole Centennial orthodontic treatment consuming foods and beverages that slowly stain their clear braces.
Additionally, try the guidelines mentioned above. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing, and having regular checkups will not only contribute to maintaining good dental health but will also avoid your braces and ligatures staining.
How to Keep Good Oral Hygiene With Invisalign in Centennial?
While keeping good dental health with Invisalign is much easier than with regular and ceramic braces, each orthodontic patient still needs to follow some oral hygiene measures to avoid unwanted dental complications during their Early orthodontic treatment in Centennial.
One of the few and most common oral hygiene instructions to follow with clear aligners, like Invisalign in Centennial, is to wash your trays thoroughly with water after every meal. Ideally, you would want to brush your teeth and your aligners fully after each meal, but given the difficulty, orthodontists don’t expect you to do so.
When you are fully brushing your braces, however, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and no toothpaste, as it could contain materials that damage the models. Brush the inside and outside of the aligners until you notice no bacteria or food particles are left. Additionally, you can let them soak in Invisalign Cleaning Crystals for 15 minutes for deep cleaning.
Begin Your Treatment With Us
For those who are ready to type ‘Orthodontist Near Me,’ look no more. Here at Sloss & Carpenter Orthodontics, we are ready to help you deal with any obstacle preventing you from maintaining proper oral hygiene during your orthodontic treatment in Centennial. Schedule your appointment here, and we’ll have you come in as soon as possible.
