Enduring orthodontic treatment can often be difficult, but patients must refrain from neglecting their oral health. With countless orthodontic appointments and the potential pain presented by braces, it’s easy to skip oral hygiene. However, it’s crucial for patients to maintain clean teeth with braces, as oral care requires a bit more. Braces create numerous hard-to-reach areas throughout your mouth that makes cleaning less effective, yet more necessary.
At the office of Robert Rosenfeld DDS, we understand the difficulties of keeping clean teeth with braces. Dr. Rosenfeld genuinely cares for his patients and wants to ensure every patient maintains proper oral health habits throughout their orthodontic treatment. Take a moment to learn why dental hygiene is so important in the presence of braces and how you can effectively keep your teeth clean throughout the process.
Braces Make Teeth More Susceptible to Cavities and Staining
As mentioned, metal braces create many hard-to-reach areas inside your mouth. The gaps between your teeth, as well as between brackets, become susceptible to decay. Also, braces allow food debris to remain on your teeth for longer periods of time, which gives bacteria more time to create plaque and acids.
Dental hygiene should always be a priority. In the presence of braces, it becomes even more necessary. Of course, we understand how difficult it can be to reach those small areas created by your braces, but there a few techniques you can use to thoroughly clean teeth with braces.
Helpful Tools in Keeping Teeth Clean
While braces do present some difficulty to oral hygiene, you can utilize a few different tools to simplify the process. Again, patients need to pay special attention to their oral health during orthodontic treatment. Therefore, take a look at a few ways you can maintain clean teeth with braces:
- Water Flossers: Perhaps one of the most effective ways to keep teeth clean, is with the use of a water flosser. They use a pressurized stream of water to flush out food debris and bacteria from your teeth.
- Floss Threaders: Getting floss between brackets and under wires can be difficult, but floss threaders can be very helpful. You can ask your orthodontist or Dr. Rosenfeld for threaders at your next appointment.
- Proxy Brushes: Shaped like a Christmas tree, proxy brushes are designed to brush in between brackets and underneath wires—where your toothbrush can’t reach. They are also great for bringing on the go and using after meals.
Don’t Forget Regular Checkups and Cleanings
Maintaining clean teeth with braces doesn’t have to be a difficult task and, as you can see, there are plenty of ways to simplify your dental hygiene routine and prevent cavities. However, you should also visit Dr. Robert Rosenfeld twice a year, especially during orthodontic treatment, to ensure your teeth are healthy and cavity free.
Contact us today for any questions or to schedule an appointment. You can also give us a call at 858.755.1189.