When you first get braces, brushing your teeth can turn into a time consuming and difficult task. The metal brackets make it hard to reach certain places in your mouth. Dr. Steven Harrison’s team at Parkcrest Dental has some techniques that will help you when you’re brushing your teeth and taking care of your overall oral health with braces.
Choosing A Toothbrush
One of the things that can make brushing with braces so difficult is the type of toothbrush you’re using. When you get braces, you should first consider getting a new toothbrush that is specifically designed for use with braces. You might consider looking into getting an electric or sonic toothbrush designed for cleaning around your braces. Interdental brushes are also a great investment. These brushes have an angled head and brush that is made to fit around your braces.
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Brush The Outer And Inner Sides
How you brush is just as important as the tool you brush with. Begin brushing on the outside of your bottom teeth. Close your teeth together, then move the toothbrush back and forth across the bottom of your teeth. Repeat with the top teeth. If you’re using a regular toothbrush you’ll have to slant the brush towards your gum line and toward the top of your teeth as well. Then, it’s time to brush the inside part of your teeth. Move the toothbrush back and forth, up and down and then with circular motions on the inside of your top and bottom teeth.
Rinse, Then Floss
After you’ve brushed, rinse your mouth out with water. This can usually dislodge anything on the inside of your mouth that has gotten stuck. Anything that’s leftover you floss out. You may want to consider different types of floss like Plackers (floss on a stick) or water flossers. These tools make flossing much easier with braces. If you’re using regular floss, take a long piece of string floss, wrap it around your index finger on each hand, and floss it between each tooth space. Try to bend the string around the teeth in a “C” shape so you can remove any hidden plaque.
Mouthwash
After you floss, it’s a good idea to use mouthwash to give your mouth an additional cleaning. Use a mouthwash that specifically states that it helps prevent gingivitis. This will help ensure that it fights off any symptoms of gum disease.
Related Post: Why Mouthwash Can’t Compete With Brushing
Visit Dr. Steven Harrison At Parkcrest Dental
If you need a good check-up or cleaning and you have braces, Dr. Steven Harrison at Parkcrest Dental can be a perfect fit for you. With years of experience in orthodontics, he’ll make sure your teeth are squeaky clean with braces. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
