Suwanee GA Orthodontist for Keeping Your Teeth Clean With Braces

You’ve heard how important brushing and flossing in terms of keeping your smile healthy. However, if you have braces on those pearly whites, it becomes even more important. Your time in braces is a season you’ll want to pick up your oral hygiene habits instead of slack off. Neglecting to brush and floss correctly and diligently through your orthodontic treatment can leave you with smile that is straight, yet plagued with stains, decay and gingivitis. To protect your orthodontic investment and ensure your teeth are both healthy and beautiful when your braces come off, follow these tips for oral hygiene with braces from your Suwanee GA orthodontist, Dr. Walton.

Brush Correctly

Make sure you are brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Remember your brushing technique is very important with braces. Do your best to clean all surfaces of your teeth, including the areas between the wires and teeth and between the brackets and gums. It is very easy for food debris to get stuck in these places, which harbors bacteria and can eventually cause decay.

Invest in the Right Brushing Tools

For braces, it is best to use a toothbrush that has soft-bristles or one that has shorter bristles in the middle and longer bristles around the edges (bi-level brush). However, if you are finding it difficult to clean the areas near your brackets and wires, an interdental toothbrush should also be considered. These are special brushes that look like pipe cleaners to gently but effectively remove food particles around your braces.

Another braces cleaning tool to consider is a water pick, which uses high powered streams of water to blast away bacteria and debris in the hard to brush places of your smile. Keep in mind that a water pick or oral irrigator is not intended to replace your brushing session, just compliment it.

Make Flossing Imperative

With braces, you’ve got even more places to thread your floss. Orthodontic patients need to floss at least once per day to keep their mouth as healthy as possible. This is a primary weapon against the common gingivitis and puffy gums that many braces wearers suffer from due to plaque buildup along the gumline. A floss threader is one of the most effective flossing tools for braces. This special device allows you to get underneath the archwire of your braces with ease.

For more tips on keeping your teeth and gums healthy while in braces, please contact Walton Orthodontics. We love helping patients protect their smile!

Walton Orthodontics
2609 Peachtree Pkwy, #C
Suwanee, GA 30024
(770) 663-0955