Oral health plays a large role in your overall health and wellness. Keeping your teeth healthy is always important, but arguably it’s even more important if you have braces. Braces are used to straighten or align teeth by putting pressure on the teeth to move them to the right place in the mouth.
Typically, a patient wears braces from 6 months to 2 years depending on the complexity of the situation. While braces are helpful for cosmetic reasons, they can be especially helpful in the health of your teeth. Crooked teeth can be difficult to clean properly, and a misaligned bite can wear on teeth over time.
Keeping your braces clean during treatment will ensure a happy, healthy smile at the end. The brackets and bonding of the braces to the tooth can trap food particles easily causing tooth decay and gingivitis (inflammation of gum tissue).
Here’s a quick overview on how to keep your teeth clean with braces:
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush in a circular motion. You should brush your teeth after every meal to properly clean your braces.
- Floss in between your braces twice a day. We recommend using a floss designed for braces such as this one.
- After flossing, use a mouthwash to swish away any bacteria left from flossing.
- Visit your dentist for routine dental care and cleanings! While your orthodontist will oversee your braces, it’s important to still see your family dentist for your cleanings.
If you’re seeing an orthodontist and have braces, it’s important to still continue with your routine dental care and cleanings with Dr. Brady.
What is an orthodontist?
Simply put, orthodontists diagnose and treat dental irregularities. They treat a variety of ailments including crooked teeth, under/overbites, and teeth crowding. An orthodontist is a dental specialist and has completed additional training outside of dental school.
Ideal Image Dentistry & Spa Can Help!
While braces may not be the most exciting thing in your life, they are often necessary and a wise investment to help straighten your teeth and keep your mouth healthy. At Ideal Image, we strive to provide a stress-free, spa-like environment. We understand that dental work can be stressful so we do our very best to provide you with a great experience. Call today if you have questions!