We at Orthodontics 1 encourage all of our patients to follow the following guidelines for maximum oral health and comfortable orthodontic treatment. Always remember to brush your braces thoroughly after every meal and snack. Brushing is very important, but while wearing braces, it is critical. Remember that even a small snack can cause stains or discoloration of your teeth if food particles are not properly removed from your braces after eating. We recommend that all of our patients use an ultrasonic toothbrush, such as Sonicaretm. It is available at most pharmacies. Water Piks are also great to help keep the teeth and gums healthy. Always use prescription fluoride toothpaste, such as Prevident, when brushing your teeth. If you are unable to brush your teeth after eating, try swishing your mouth with water to loosen food that might otherwise remain trapped in your braces. Be sure to maintain a regular dental cleaning schedule every three months with your family dentist to ensure optimum oral hygiene and prevention of cavities. Your dentist should take X-rays every six months while you are in active orthodontic treatment. Your dental health and hygiene is part of the key to successful orthodontic treatment! Click this link for brushing demonstration: Brushing Demonstration.
Flossing with braces can take some getting used to. Our office or your pharmacy can provide you with a threader, which is a great way to get floss in between your braces or fixed appliances. Floss between the teeth and work it up under the gums. Doing this prevents cavities from forming in-between teeth. Repeat this process between all teeth.
There are so many mouthwashes on the market today. However, many brands only eliminate bad breath for as little as 30 seconds! Anti-plaque or anti-gingivitis mouth rinses are designed to kill the bacteria that produce plaque. Fluoride mouth rinses help prevent decay by strengthening the tooth enamel and making it more resistant to decay. We want to stress that either of these two mouthwashes will be helpful, but only after thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth. If you have fixed appliances to shape or widen the jaws, a prescription mouthwash, such as PerioGuard, is to be used.
We feel that it is very important for all of our patients to follow a program of good oral care. This can greatly contribute to your overall nutrition and general well being. You'll be able to chew more easily, digest food better, and enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods. By practicing daily oral hygiene at home, eating nutritious meals, and making regular dental visits, you will help ensure that your mouth stays healthy. A bright, healthy smile will make you look and feel good about yourself!
Not only is your diet important to your general health, it is also important to your dental health. If you do not eat a balanced diet, you are more likely to get tooth decay and gum disease. Developing teeth can also be affected. Children who have a poor diet are more likely to have dental problems. Pregnant women need balanced diets so their babies' teeth can develop normally. Vitamin and mineral supplements are always recommended. If your drinking water does not have fluoride in it, you should ask your dentist about fluoride supplements.
It is best that you eat softer foods for the first week when you get your braces. After that, you can eat most of the good things you eat now. However, you should not eat hard, sticky, gooey or crunchy foods while wearing braces, as this could pull or knock the braces off your teeth. Also, the repetitive stresses of chewing tough foods fatigues the metal in your appliances, and this could eventually lead to their failure. If you must eat some harder foods, try slicing them into smaller pieces first. Biting into whole raw fruits and vegetables, french bread, or crunchy snacks could loosen the wires and brackets on your braces, and increase your chances of extended treatment time. Also try avoiding extra sugar in your diet as this can cause decay around your brackets and bands.