|
The best
way to ensure a clean and healthy smile are brushing and flossing.
Food particles can accumulate on teeth and in braces, and over
time turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation
can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even loss of teeth.
To avoid these problems while you are in orthodontic treatment,
take special care of your braces, teeth, and gums to ensure
you will have the best possible result.
Brushing
 Use
a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride
toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small,
circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your
gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and
carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces,
and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes
to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth,
down on the upper teeth, and the outside, inside, and chewing
surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and
the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth four
times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your
teeth and braces:
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch or right after school
- After supper
- At bedtime
You will need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your
appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray,
replace your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult
for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire.
Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with
water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss and
use an antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride treatment throughout
your orthodontic treatment and beyond for optimal oral hygiene.
Flossing
 For
areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, use dental
floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more
time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important
to floss your teeth every day.
Use the reuseable floss threader provided by our office to floss
under your archwire daily. Pull a small length of floss from
the dispenser through the threader and slide it up and down
along the front of each tooth. You will be able to feel when
the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against
your clean teeth. Use care around your archwire and do not floss
too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After
you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your
other teeth and gums.
If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small
length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss
tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between
all teeth to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque.
Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that
you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish.
Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you
go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces,
your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away
after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next
appointment.
Interdental Toothbrush
 An
interdental toothbrush (Proxabrush) is another aid you may find
useful to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy.
It can be used to clean under orthodontic wires and around braces.
Use this device slowly so you do not damage your braces.
Prevident
Prevident is a toothpaste with a very high floride concentration.
Prevident can only be purchased at the drugstore with a prescription
from Dr. Gill. We recommend brushing with it once a day at bedtime
to help minimize the chances of decay.
Cleaning a Removable Appliance
All orthodontic appliances tend to accumulate food particles and plaque just like teeth do. Every time you brush your teeth, brush your removable appliance. Once a day you should soak your appliance in a glass of room temperature tap water with a denture-cleaning tablet, such as Polident or Efferdent. This will help prevent plaque buildup and oral infections and will keep your appliance tasting better.
|
|
|
