Do braces make your breath stink?
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Oral hygiene for braces
We all experience morning breath from time to time so do not be embarrassed! Normally, our morning brushing routines get rid of it. However, some people may experience worse morning breath while they have braces. Our orthodontic dental team at Whites Dental in London Waterloo will be thrilled to answer your questions in regard to orthodontic braces. We provide a range of orthodontic braces such as Ceramic braces, Invisalign teen braces and Damon Braces.
Morning breath is primarily caused by dry mouth
While general bad breath can be caused for a variety of different reasons (oral hygiene habits, diet and even some systemic diseases), morning breath most often stems from dry mouth.
While we’re sleeping, saliva production is slowed down automatically by our bodies to help us sleep. Otherwise we would have to be swallowing throughout the night. Saliva is fundamental to our oral health because it rinses away food particles, makes our mouth less acidic, and helps keep our mouth bacteria in check.
Therefore, when our saliva production stops doing its thing during our sleep, the bacteria goes wild! This creates a massive amount of sulphur gas build-up that stinks! Gross, right? That’s another reason why it is realty important to brush our teeth before bed—it helps at least start out our sleep period with minimal sugars and bacteria in our mouths. If you notice that your morning breath is worse when you are wearing braces, it may be a sign that you need to spend more time on your night brushing and flossing routine! Call our team on 0208 616 0590 for tips on ways to be more effective
The benefit of wearing braces is that you’ll be rewarded with a stunning straight smile. The time that you spend wearing your braces is an investment in your health and appearance of your smile. However, your orthodontist might tell you that braces can present a few problems. The majority of these problems are usually faced by those wearing braces, such as food getting trapped in your braces, difficulty flossing, and bad breath. So don’t worry, you’re not alone. For this article we’re going to concentrate on bad breath and what you can do to prevent it. There’s no need to hide yourself off from others for fear that your bad breath will make them turn away.
Here are some tips to keep your breath fresh when wearing braces
- Stay hydrated – A dry mouth lowers the production of saliva and can make the breath smell. Saliva is the body’s way of washing away bacteria and food remnants from your teeth and gums, both of which are contributors to bad breath. Keep a bottle of water nearby so that you can sip from it during the day.
- Eat a healthy diet – Sugar loaded unhealthy foods can be a cause of bad breath. Try and stick to eating healthy fresh products such as fruit and vegetables, protein, grains and dairy, all of which should be on the list of foods that your dentist should be recommending you eat during your orthodontic treatment.
- Stay away from sugary drinks – Just as with sugar overloaded food, sugary and fizzy drinks such as coke and fruit juice, can also contribute to bad breath.
- Brush your teeth more regularly – Make it a habit to brush your teeth and your tongue more often. Brush your teeth first thing in the morning, after every meal or snack, and before you go to bed, in order to remove trapped food particles and plaque, which can cause your breath to smell.
- Do not stop flossing – Flossing may be tricky whilst wearing braces but it really is necessary. Ask your dentist near me for some tips on flossing and if they can recommend a particular floss or toothbrush which may be easier to use around your brace.
- Use a mouthwash – Wash your mouth after brushing with an antiseptic mouth rinse which will make your breath smell fresh and clean. Whirl it around for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.
- Schedule regular dental check-ups – dental appointments and regular cleaning are more important than ever when you wear braces. Cavities can hinder with orthodontics so be sure to attend regular dental appointments every six months or less.
Maintain daily good oral hygiene
Practising good oral hygiene every day is vital whether you wear braces or not, but it is especially important when you are wearing braces. Imagine how you’d feel if once your braces were removed, your new straight smile was spoiled by decay.
How to maintain good dental hygiene with braces-
- Before you brush, rinse with water. This can help loosen any food debris stuck in and around the braces. When you’re all set, start by brushing at the gum line at a 45-degree angle. Then once you are finished brushing the gum line, place the toothbrush on top of the brackets, angling down to brush on top of each bracket. Then, shift the toothbrush to brush the bottom of the wire and the bracket, angling the toothbrush up.
- Take your time. Be meticulous and brush every tooth at the gum line as well as on top and at the bottom of the brackets. That way you will reach the majority of the tooth’s surface and remove plaque and food debris. Even children who are old enough to brush on their own might need help at the beginning until they are comfortable angling the toothbrush correctly and have learned how to brush their teeth properly with braces.
For further information on how to create and complete that perfect smile, get in touch with us, we can point you in the right direction. Our dedicated dental team are always happy to provide you the best treatment for your needs, and to provide honest, impartial advice on how best to care for your braces and teeth.
For more information on orthodontic braces, you can visit our orthodontics homepage – https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/orthodontist-teeth-straightening-london-waterloo/
At Whites Dental, we work with some of the best orthodontic practitioners in London, providing Orthodontic braces such as fixed braces, Invisalign & Damon braces to patients around us in London Waterloo. This page provides information on whether braces make your breath stink.