Braces aim to meet the goal of a healthy and beautiful smile, but getting there can sometimes be an uphill battle. This is especially true when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums clean in the process.
Besides avoiding sugary drinks and sticky candies, here are a few ways to keep your teeth and gums in good shape while having braces.
- Find the right angle. To gently clean the surface of your teeth and maintain strong gums, angle your toothbrush over and under the bracket. Scrub gently. Consider watching yourself in the mirror to make sure you cover as much of the tooth surface as possible.
- Take your floss behind the scenes. Your floss now requires a partner, a floss-threader. Nowadays, there are even some floss brands that have the floss-threader built in, which simplifies this process. The floss-threader allows your floss to go under your braces and remove excess build-up, especially after eating. Floss underneath each bracket as well as in between your teeth to keep from developing cavities.
- Consider an interdental-brush solution. Normal brushing and flossing can only do so much. However, a new tool that might come in handy while having braces is an interdental brush. This type of brush has a narrow head and makes it easy to brush underneath brackets and between teeth.
- Swish away those germs. Mouthwash can find its way in between tooth crevices that are unreachable with brushes and floss. Just an extra 30 seconds of swishing can go a long way to preserving a healthy mouth.
Have questions about your braces or considering where to begin the process? We at Akridge Orthodontics would love to answer your questions, walk you through the options and find the best fit for you. Our initial evaluation is FREE. So come in and let’s talk about the next step of uncovering that beautiful smile. Contact us at any of our convenient locations.
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