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Braces straighten your teeth, but they also make it difficult to thoroughly clean your teeth. Braces trap food particles and make it difficult to brush and floss. As a result, plaque and tartar can build up on your teeth. Here are a few tips to take care of your oral health while wearing braces.

Eat A Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is easier while wearing braces than you may think! Our teeth are designed for chewing crunchy fruits and vegetables that require a bit of work to break down and therefore release important nutrients. Plus, a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can help protect your teeth against decay and help keep your oral microbiome balanced.

Some foods to avoid include popcorn kernels, hard candy, and sticky foods like dried fruits and granola bars. Foods that are good to keep around for snacking while you’re wearing braces include firm fruits like apples and bananas, vegetables such as carrots and celery, cheese cubes, and nuts.

Regular Flossing

During orthodontic treatment, it is important to clean off food particles from between the wires and brackets of your braces. Food caught between the wires can cause staining or gum disease if not removed regularly. This can easily be done by flossing with your toothbrush or using an interdental cleaner such as a floss threader. If flossing with braces is challenging for you, try using a floss threader to help pull the floss beneath the wires of your braces. Your orthodontist can show you how to properly use this tool during your routine cleanings and checkups with us.

Use Appropriate Oral Hygiene Products

A Waterpik is a handy oral irrigator that cleans between teeth with a stream of pressurized water. It’s perfect for cleaning around brackets and wires, but it can even remove plaque that can cause cavities and gum disease! Simply fill the reservoir with water, point the tip at your gumline, and let the machine do the work for you. Or, for a more gentle experience, try a water flosser that uses pulsations to massage your gums while you floss.

Schedule Regular Dental Cleaning and Exams

In addition to your at-home oral hygiene routine, it’s important to see your dentist every six months for an absolute cleaning and checkup. These visits allow your dentist to keep your mouth clean and healthy while ensuring that your teeth and gums are healthy and free of disease.

When you have a mouth full of metal brackets and wires, it can be easy to neglect proper brushing and flossing habits, which increases your risk of developing gum disease. If plaque builds up around your brace attachments, it can contribute to tooth decay and even tooth loss. This can happen even if you don’t notice any pain or discomfort from your braces.

Your dentist can clean your teeth in a way that’s compatible with your orthodontic treatment. Using special tools designed for cleaning around braces, they can get rid of food and bacteria that build up on your enamel. By removing this buildup regularly, you can reduce your risk of cavities and other oral health problems.

During your routine checkups, your dentist will perform a thorough examination to check for signs of periodontal disease. Gum disease is a common side effect of wearing braces because food particles easily become trapped between the wires and your gums. Without regular professional care, you put yourself at a higher risk of losing a tooth to advanced stages of infection.

If you would like more information on caring for teeth and gums while wearing braces, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.