Helpful Brushing Tips
Your overall dental health is our number one priority. Please make sure you see your dentist for regularly scheduled cleanings every three to six months. Here are a few helpful hints to improve overall brushing and oral hygiene habits. Some of the key factors in good brushing habits with braces are the angle in which you’re brushing at, the length of time you are brushing, and taking the time to look at the end result.
- Take your time. Two good brushes a day are better than five quick ineffective brushes. If you have a hard time judging the amount of time you should be brushing, put a timer next to the sink. A fun way to time yourself is to listen to your favorite tune. Put your earphones on or turn the radio on and brush the length of a song.
- Make sure your angling your toothbrush when brushing around your brackets. If you’re brushing straight across you’re probably missing the little part of tooth toward your gums. Using small, circular motions at a slight angle is very effective. Make sure your not just brushing the surface that your bracket is on. You also need to brush the chewing surface as well as the backside facing your tongue. Brushing your tongue will remove bacteria and will also help freshen your breath. If you have any questions, the clinical staff would be happy to help.
- Adding an oral rinse to your brushing routine is a great idea. Any over the counter rinse can be used before brushing to help loosen debris and food particles. An antiseptic mouth rinse, such as Listerine or Peroxyl, will help reduce the bacteria count in your mouth. This is most effective for those people with red puffy gums, but can also reduce plaque. A fluoride rinse, such as Phos Flur, or Act, can help protect against tooth decay and cavities. We also have a stronger mouth rinse and toothpaste available that will be prescribed by the doctor, if necessary.
- Flossing is a tedious process with braces but necessary. It is very important to remove plaque from between your teeth to prevent cavities, and gum inflammation.
- Make sure you are inspecting your handiwork when you’re done brushing. If you still see plaque or food debris, you should start the process over to make sure your teeth are spotless!
Poor brushing and oral hygiene can lead to permanent enamel damage called decalcification. Decalcification looks like a bright white scar on your tooth. It shows up were the plaque and food debris hasn’t been removed and it starts to weaken the tooth’s hard enamel surface. With the use of fluoride toothpastes and rinses these areas can be strengthened, which will lessen the likelihood of decalcification. Once the white marks appear they can only be masked by extensive restorative dental work.
If poor oral hygiene continues to be problem during your orthodontic treatment here, it can lead to early removal of your orthodontic appliances.