Keeping Your Braces Clean

Most of the people in the United States have had braces at one time or another unless you have straight teeth. If you are one of those that had braces and now have a child who has braces, you will be able to guide them along on the path of dealing with the things that come with them. Braces are known to hinder normal chewing that cleans and showers the teeth. There are many other things that will need to be done to keep the teeth and braces clean. It will not do to get cavities on top of having to wear the braces. The brackets and braces that are used will cover the exterior of the teeth but the wires attached to them will be something that will definitely get in the way.

When food gets stuck in the teeth, it will start to form plaque and this will eventually lead to cavities from the bacteria it creates. Diseases of the gum are also included in this because they are also created by bacteria and can lead to gum swelling and infection. To stop all this from happening to the child that has braces, you will need to teach them the right ways to clean their mouths and braces.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make appointments with your orthodontist every 2 to 6 weeks, based on his assessment of your progress. Delaying your appointments because of other obligations can extend your treatment and also makes it more likely that you may lose a bracket or have a loose wire.
2. Brush and floss after every meal. Use a floss threader to get between the braces and a proxy brush to clear out any food particles. Your orthodontist can provide you with both of these.
3. Buy an electric toothbrush which can spin into the smallest crevices between your braces and teeth and dislodge those small food particles a regular toothbrush might miss. For the best results, brush first with a regular toothbrush and then use an electric toothbrush.
4. Clean removable appliances or sports mouth guards with baking soda and warm water. Use an old toothbrush to brush them gently with the baking soda solution and set them on a paper towel to dry. Keeping your appliances clean ensures that no additional bacteria gets in your mouth and on your braces.
5. Contact your orthodontist as soon as a bracket pops off. If you leave the bracket off for even a day, it can damage other parts of your braces and set your treatment back considerably.