Tips for Cleaning Your Teeth With Braces

About 4 million people wear braces in the United States.

Though wearing braces is an uncomfortable situation, doing a good job of cleaning your teeth and mouth will make it easier to deal with the inconvenience of having braces.

Keeping your mouth clean is that much more important when wearing braces. Striking the perfect balance between brushing and flossing and letting the braces do the work is essential to keeping your mouth cavity and tooth decay free.

Ready to learn about cleaning teeth with braces? Here are some tips on how to care for braces.

Daily Care for Your Teeth with Braces

Avoid eating hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can damage your braces. Also, be careful with activities that could cause injury to your mouth, such as contact sports and using your teeth as tools.

Follow your orthodontist’s instructions carefully and research the adult braces pros and cons to ensure that you have a healthy and successful experience with braces.

Avoid Eating Hard or Chewy Foods

You must be extra careful when eating with braces, especially with chewy foods. If you’re not careful, you could damage your braces or even cause yourself some severe pain. Hard or chewy food can break brackets or wires. Stick to softer foods like cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and soft fruits.

If you can’t avoid them, then be sure to cut them into small pieces so that you don’t have to bite into them.

Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks

One of the most important things to remember when you have braces is to avoid sugary foods and drinks. Sugar can cause cavities and gum disease, leading to tooth decay and other problems.

Instead, focus on eating healthy foods and brushing your teeth regularly. If you do indulge, be sure to brush your teeth afterward.

Avoid Using Your Teeth as Tools

It’s also important to avoid using your teeth as tools. Don’t bite your nails, chew on ice, or open packages with your teeth. Doing so can damage your braces and your teeth.

Contact Sports

If you have braces, it’s essential to avoid contact sports to prevent any damage to your teeth or mouth. Instead, focus on low-impact activities like swimming or biking.

Preventing Stained Teeth

The first and most crucial step in preventing stained teeth is to brush your teeth regularly and effectively. It means using a toothbrush with soft bristles that can reach all surfaces of your teeth, including hard-to-reach spots like your molars.

If you have braces, brushing and flossing regularly is even more essential to prevent staining. You may need to use a special toothbrush or flossing tool to help you reach all surfaces of your teeth and remove any plaque or food particles. In addition, be sure to brush your tongue to remove any bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Brushing Your Teeth

If you have braces, you need to brush your teeth after every meal to avoid the buildup of plaque and food particles. When teeth cleaning with braces, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle circular motions. It will help prevent irritation of your gums and braces.

Start by brushing your molars (back teeth), then move to the teeth in the front. Be sure to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Pay special attention to the area around your brackets and wires.

Tools to Use for Cleaning Your Teeth

There are a few things to remember when cleaning your teeth with braces. First, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and be sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the gum line.

A water pick can also help get to those hard-to-reach areas. Be sure to floss daily and use mouthwash to help keep your mouth healthy and free of bacteria.

Use an Interdental Brush

Taking care of your teeth can be a bit more challenging if you have braces. You must be extra diligent about brushing and flossing to avoid cavities or other problems. An interdental brush is one tool that can help make cleaning your teeth with braces easier.

These brushes are designed to reach between your teeth and eliminate plaque and bacteria. They can be a lifesaver in keeping your teeth clean and healthy with braces.

Use a Water Pick

If you have braces, you know it can be challenging to clean your teeth. You may be wondering if any tips can help make the process easier. One tip is to use a water pick.

It can help remove food and plaque from your teeth and braces. Be gentle when using a water pick and avoid using it on your gums.

Use Floss

Be sure to floss between your teeth at least once a day. It is essential if you have food trapped between your teeth.

A few things to remember when flossing with braces: Use a long piece of floss, about 18 inches. Wrap the floss around each tooth using a gentle back-and-forth motion. Be careful not to snap the floss against the gums.

Use a clean section of floss for each tooth. Rinse thoroughly with water when you are finished.

Use Mouthwash

When cleaning your teeth with braces, be sure to use mouthwash. It will help to clean your braces and remove any plaque or food that may be stuck in them.

Be sure to follow the directions on the mouthwash bottle and swish it around your mouth for at least 30 seconds. Spit it out, and then rinse your mouth with water.

Using mouthwash daily can help remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth, and it will also help freshen your breath.

See Your Orthodontist for Regular Checkups

To have healthy teeth and gums while wearing braces, brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and use an antimicrobial mouthwash. Be extra careful when brushing around brackets and wires, and don’t forget to clean your tongue! Ask your orthodontist for guidance if you have any questions about how to care for your teeth with braces.

See your orthodontist for regular checkups so that they can clean your teeth and check your braces to make sure everything is in place. They will be able to spot any potential problems with your braces and help to keep your smile looking great.

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