Do I Brush My Teeth With Braces On
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Fixed Braces in London Waterloo
Orthodontic braces and similar teeth straightening treatments have the potential to completely transform your smile – both for teenagers and adults in London. Braces treatment can last anywhere between 4-6 months to sometimes even 18 months. It’s vitally important to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy over the course of your orthodontic treatment. At Whites Dental, our private orthodontists can provide you advice on how best to look after your teeth and gums alongside having braces treatment. We also offer a range of braces options such as Lingual braces, Damon braces, hidden braces and Invisalign braces.
After having had braces placed on your teeth, you likely have a number of questions about how to properly take care of these braces as well as your teeth for the duration that you are supposed to wear them. Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential towards ensuring that your smile looks beautiful once the braces are taken off. In this article we will focus on answering the question- “How do I brush my teeth with braces?” In order to keep your teeth clean with braces, there are various things that you’re going to want to do and foods that you should avoid throughout the teeth straightening process. You must keep your mouth and teeth as healthy as possible. It shouldn’t be too difficult to keep your teeth clean during this process, but the brackets may make it somewhat tricky to brush in the same manner as you always have until you get used to the changes. Fortunately, brushing with braces is really no more difficult than it is normally. You can use a regular toothbrush, with regular bristles. You may need to replace it more often though, because the metal brackets will wear the bristles down faster. Be gentle, take care and do not put too much pressure on teeth.
You should try avoid sticky foods when wearing braces as they can damage both your braces and teeth, while sugar should be limited as much as possible to avoid the harmful effects that too much sugar can have on oral health. Make sure that you avoid fizzy drinks as well, as the acid within can wear down your enamel. Some extra food you should limit while wearing braces include popcorn, caramel, chips, and chewing gum. By maintaining a healthy diet, the risks of developing issues with your teeth and gum are substantially lowered and will allow your smile to appear beautiful immediately after your braces are removed.
How to maintain good dental hygiene with braces-
Before you brush, rinse with water. This can help loosen any food lodged in and around the braces. When you’re ready, start by brushing at the gum line at a 45-degree angle. Once you are done brushing the gum line, place the toothbrush on top of the brackets, angling down to brush on top of each bracket. Then, move the toothbrush to brush the bottom of the bracket and the wire, angling the toothbrush up.
Take your time. Make sure to 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 help remove plaque and food debris. Even kids who are old enough to brush on their own may need help until they are comfortable angling the toothbrush properly and have learned how to brush their teeth with braces.
How to maintain good dental hygiene with braces-
Cleaning between yeeth – Flossing is a crucial step towards keeping teeth healthy. It can seem like a difficult task to do with braces. But, there are different options you may want to consider to make flossing a little easier- a floss threader, plackers- which are like floss on a stick, or water flossers. These flossing tools are much faster and easier to use than regular flossing and can be purchased at
Watch what you eat – The best way to protect your teeth from damage is to keep food that are detrimental to teeth or braces out. Avoid foods that are hard or difficult to chew, like apples, taffy, caramels, corn on the cob, hard pretzels, popcorn, nuts, carrots or bagels. Don’t chew on ice or bubble gum. Cut back or avoid sugar completely. Sugary foods and soda rot your teeth and cause plaque that can lead to gingivitis.
Dental visits every six months
When your braces look shiny and clean (and you can see the edges of the brackets), you will know that you have done a fine job. You only have to brush and floss twice a day, like anybody else, or more frequently if you have consumed a lot of sugary drinks and snacks. Ideally it is recommended to visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning every six months. The dentist can point out areas that need more attention, and help make sure you’re keeping your teeth healthy and clean. And you will also be able to inform your doctor of any unexpected changes to your teeth or mouth.
If you are considering using fixed orthodontic braces to have your teeth straightened, why not call our friendly reception staff to book a free consult with our dentists. You will be able to discuss your needs and identify the braces treatment option that’s best suited to your needs. For more information on orthodontic braces, visit our orthodontics homepage – https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/orthodontist-teeth-straightening-london-waterloo/
At Whites Dental, we have some of London’s leading dentists offering orthodontic braces (such as fixed braces, Invisalign, Damon braces, Fastbraces, Six Month Smiles, Lingual braces and metal braces) to patients around us in Central London. We are based in London Waterloo, right next to Southwark tube station. We are also a short 10 minutes’ walk from Borough, London Bridge and Elephant and Castle.