Orthodontic Oral Hygiene
As you eat, your teeth and braces collect food. If food is left on the teeth and gum line, a bacterium causes plaque to form. Plaque causes cavities (tooth decay), decalcification (white marks on teeth), as well as gum disease (swollen, puffy, red, overgrown or bleeding gums). Most of the food we eat contains significant amounts of sugar. Since the braces act like a shelf, sugary drinks and food are especially bad for teeth and gums. It is discouraging to put the time and money into achieving beautiful straight teeth only to remove the braces and find permanent white marks or cavities. Clean teeth do not decay and healthy gums do not swell or bleed. The following are recommended guidelines and tools to be used in cleaning your teeth and gums:
1. Soft-Bristled Toothbrush - Brush after each meal and before bedtime (4-5 times a day). Always point the small brush at the tip away from the gums. A travel toothbrush is great to place in a purse, glove compartment or locker to use for brushing after lunch. Brush in small circles above, on top of and below the braces. Brush all molar chewing surfaces. Brush the inside of your teeth in small circles. All of this will take about 3-5 minutes every time you do it in order to be effective. This type of thorough brushing would be about the same time it takes to listen to a song on the radio.
2. Fluoride Rinse - We recommend using a fluoride rinse each day. The fluoride will harden the enamel and reduce the tendency for decalcification and decay. We also recommend that the toothpaste you use contain fluoride.
3. Floss Threaders - Thread the floss through the large opening of the threader. Place the straight tip againist the tooth and under the wire, pull through (this will give you access to the floss). Pull floss in between the teeth down to the gums in a "C" shape. Repeat.