Brushing and Flossing with Braces
 Braces are often necessary for addressing teeth misalignments and malocclusion. Taking care of your teeth will ensure you maintain a beautiful and confident smile after getting braces. Pieces of food can accumulate on your braces creating discolored spots on the tooth. Dental hygiene is also essential for preventing gum disease and tooth decay after the braces procedure. You must also avoid damaging your braces by adjusting your diet. Our dentist at Rendon Orthodontics will instruct you on how to keep your teeth clean with braces. We will be glad to answer your questions regarding oral health treatment options. Brushing with BracesWhile braces can address misalignments, it increases the risk of oral health problems. Flossing can remove the debris stuck in the nooks and crannies created by the brackets and braces. It is also advisable to use an interproximal brush. An interproximal brush is a small, specialized brush for cleaning areas between the teeth. A regular brush cannot reach the space between the teeth or the brackets. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, or after every meal. Flossing once daily is usually enough to remove the food debris and prevent plaque. Overdoing it can wound the gums and encourage inflammation. Use the interproximal brush and ensure you clean around the wires and over the brackets. Keep the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Vary the strokes and be gentle. Brushing too vigorously can damage the tooth’s enamel and the wires on the brackets. Consider using an electric toothbrush to get your teeth cleaner with less effort. An ADA-approved electric brush often comes with multiple features to ensure you apply the correct pressure. How to Floss with BracesThe flossing technique is crucial for ensuring the teeth are clean and free from plaque. The traditional flossing technique may take up to 10 minutes of your time. However, it is critical that you clean all the brackets and wires. Wrap the floss around the hand, the index finger, and the thumb for more control. You can use a mirror to see where the floss is cleaning. Create a curve with the floss and let the floss glide gently back and forth across each set of teeth. Repeat the process until you remove food particles from each set of teeth. Other Options for Flossing with BracesIf you are not content with cleaning teeth with traditional floss, our dental team can provide other convenient alternatives. An oral irrigator can channel steam between the brackets and teeth. It is more effective and less time-consuming than conventional floss. You can speed up the process by brushing gently with a soft brush over the brackets and wires. A floss threader is another efficient and inexpensive way to floss teeth. It is, however, more time-consuming than an oral irrigator, but more convenient than traditional floss. It involves threading the floss in between the wires and pulling the strand to remove food particles. You will have to repeat the process for every set of teeth and brackets. Rendon Orthodontics can address any issues you may have with keeping your teeth clean with braces. Talk to our dentist at 469-956-5022 for dental checkups or cleanings today. |
 Frisco12398 FM 423, Suite 100 Frisco, TX 75033 469-956-5022 Monday: 8am - 5pm Wednesday: 8am - 5pm Thursday: 9am - 5:30pm |
