Orthodontic Braces
Your Guide To Dental
Braces Care

It’s important when we come to dental braces care maintaining good oral hygiene is always a must do, so if you have braces it is crucial -- and not as easy as you might wish. Dental braces care requires the use of tools you may not have used previously, and demands special care is taken with both the orthodontic brace and the teeth that carry them.

A person wearing braces faces all the difficulty caused by narrow spaces between teeth, niches that hide plaque, debris and bacteria and they face it on a level compounded by the braces, which are designed to perform a vital function, so be prepared they will not be easy to keep clean.

The metal bands (and the spaces around and under caused by irregular adhesives), the brackets that carry the wires, the springs, the protective rubber bands, and the wires themselves are all perfectly designed traps for food and plaque. Only with care after every meal can you be certain of avoiding pitting, staining, and other forms of damage caused by poor maintenance.

Brushing after every meal is the first step. A soft-bristled brush is used to avoid damaging the braces. The hygienist will demonstrate how to angle the brush to get maximum cleaning from top and bottom, sliding the bristles of the brush around and under the braces.

Flossing is still possible, but there is a good chance that your orthodontist will recommend a Christmas-tree flossing brush: a tiny mini-brush that not only goes behind and under appliances, but can be used as a soft tooth pick/flossing tool between the teeth and around the gum line.

Care must be taken to remove particles of food and other debris from the appliances -- and while most foods will still be appropriate, there are foods like apples, corn on the cob, bubble gum, and taffy that are capable of doing enormous damage to the appliances.
Dental Braces Care

A responsible orthodontist should be able to give you a list of foods to avoid, and techniques to allow you to enjoy those foods that are borderline by reducing the risk factors: this knowledge is a fundamental aspect of dental braces care.

If you care for your braces during the few months or years you wear them, your life will then be improved by beautiful, straight teeth. Poor care, however, can lead to staining, and to both tooth loss and unsightly damage.

Considering the amount of time, discomfort, and energy that goes into orthodontic work, isn't it better to take and provide good dental braces care now?

For more information, please feel free to refer to this additional dental braces care page.