Oral Hygiene & Home Care
Caring for your teeth and your braces during orthodontic work is extremely important.
Teeth and braces are a haven for bacteria after eating. If you don’t brush and floss regularly during your treatment, your teeth will be left with white marks and decay as well as swollen and bleeding gums. For this reason, it is important you clean your braces and teeth straight after every meal, every drink, every snack.
Visit Your Dentist
Just because you are under the care of an orthodontist doesn’t mean you are not required to visit your local dentist. Every 6 months you should be scheduling an appointment your usual dentist for a check-up and thorough cleaning.
Recommended Toothpaste
Our toothpaste of choice is Colgate Total, due to the antibacterial ingredient.
How to Care For Your Braces
Clean your braces first. Angle your toothbrush down on to your braces and apply light pressure so the bristles are between the wire and the teeth. Use small circles, spending approximately 10 seconds on each tooth. Do this for all teeth and then repeat the process for the lower teeth. To clean the area between your braces and gums, angle the brush towards the gums using a circular motion. After this clean the insides of your teeth. Rinse with water and then inspect your braces for food in the mirror. Your braces should be sparkling.
Flossing
Flossing takes care of the areas between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. This needs to be done at least once a day. It’s best to do this right after dinner, instead of bedtime when you are tired and can’t really be bothered doing a thorough job.
We recommend Oral-B SuperFloss for braces. It comes in pre-cut strands. No more wrestling with trying to snap it off.
Insert the floss under the wire and use both hands to manoeuvre it properly around the wires.
