One of the biggest challenges for people who wear dental braces is keeping them clean. Even when you brush your teeth carefully morning and night, the nooks and crannies of the brackets and wires are difficult to navigate. With the right tools and practices, though, the job can be made easy from the beginning to the end of your Lawrenceville orthodontic treatment.
Arm Yourself with All Necessary Cleaning Tools
There are several options for cleaning braces, but the most effective choices include:
- Water pik: The easy way to floss in between teeth and around brackets and wires, this high-powered jet of water works out food particles for a thorough clean.
- Electric toothbrush: Eliminates the chances of a too light or too heavy a hand when it comes to brushing so every tooth gets the same pressure and treatment.
- Interdental brush: A small tool that is reusable, bendable, and gets behind and around brackets and wires, especially when you’re on the go.
- Mouthwash: A powerful addition to any teeth-cleaning routine but especially for kids with braces who need a little extra help to rid their hardware of plaque and food particles and keep their enamel clean.
Remember Your Teeth and Not Only Dental Braces
It’s easy to focus on the brackets and wires of your conventional metal braces when it’s time to brush, but don’t forget about all the tooth enamel that isn’t covered by metal or ceramic. Get above the brackets, below, and behind. And don’t forget to brush your gums too. The last thing you want is to develop tooth decay while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment so be thorough and use all the tools at your disposal to get in the nooks and crannies of your entire smile.
Keep Braces Cleaning Supplies in Good Condition
Because so much is demanded of your oral hygiene tools when you have dental braces from your Lawrenceville orthodontist, review the condition of your tools regularly and replace items at the first sign of wear. This includes:
- Toothbrush heads: If you use an electric toothbrush, stock up on reusable toothbrush heads and change them out every time you visit the orthodontist, if not sooner. Change a regular toothbrush regularly too. Toothbrushes get worn out much more quickly when you’re brushing teeth with braces on them.
- Water pik heads: Most water piks come with several heads because they can be difficult to clean. Eject the old head and replace with a new one every few months or as soon as things start to look cloudy.
- Small tools: Interdental brushes and other small tools are reusable but if you’re putting them to work daily they will only last a week, two at most. Luckily, they come in a pack of multiple brushes so you’ll never be without the items you need.
Get Dental Braces in Lawrenceville
If you or your teen have difficulty keeping your braces and teeth clean, schedule more than just two cleanings per year at your dentist’s office to get professional support in maintaining your oral health through orthodontic treatment. Ask Drs. Roberts & de Marsche what else you can do to keep your smile healthy through braces. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.