Now that your braces are on, you must be sure to brush your teeth and gums better than ever before. Extra care must be taken in the area between the gums and the braces. We call this area the danger zone. Food and plaque that collects around the appliances can cause:
- stains
- cavities
- puffy gums
- unpleasant odors
- slower tooth movement
It is vital that your teeth be kept extremely clean.
Proper Brushing Technique
Remember to brush after every meal (and snack when possible) or a minimum of three times per day. Don’t rush, clean every tooth surface and around each individual brace very carefully, paying special attention to clean the area between the brace base and gumline, this will prevent swollen, puffy and sore gums. Once you are done brushing, rinse your mouth vigorously with a fluoride containing mouth rinse (Oral B mouth rinse). Once you are done brushing and rinsing, closely inspect your teeth and braces to ensure they are clean and shiny, if they are not, then brush again!
Floss at least once per day, each night before bedtime. We recommend the following helpful tooth brushing aids which are all available at your pharmacy:
- Toothpaste with fluoride.
- Fluoride-containing mouth rinse (daily formula: .05% Fluoride).
- Super Floss or Floss Threaders
- Proxy-brush.
- Oral irrigation devices: such as the Water-Pik device.
