At Orthodontic Specialists, we can help you maintain oral health while straightening your teeth. When you get braces or Invisalign, maintaining oral health can become difficult due to decreased access to your teeth. Here are six tips to maintain your oral health while undergoing orthodontic care from our orthodontist in Florence KY and surrounding areas:
1. Brushing Regularly
Due to additional surfaces for hiding plaque and food particles, brushing regularly avoids the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis. Consider brushing twice a day, whether that’s after meals or mornings and evenings. There are various types of toothbrushes for sensitivity or gumlines, such as sulcabrush, standard manual toothbrush, electic toothbrush, or an interdental brush. It’s recommended to spend at least two minutes brushing and cleaning around the brackets, wires, and other orthodontic appliances.
2. Flossing Daily
Traditional or unwaxed floss makes it challenging to work with, but tools like floss threaders or orthodontic floss can make the process easier. Consider flossing at least once daily to remove trapped food and plaque between your teeth and braces. Water flossers are another popular option to maintain gumline health and helps to avoid decay.
3. Using Mouthwash
Incorporating an antiseptic mouthwash into your daily oral hygiene routine can help kill bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. Rinse with the mouthwash after brushing and flossing to reach areas your toothbrush and floss may have missed. An antiseptic mouthwash can be especially beneficial for individuals with braces or aligners.
4. Choosing the Right Foods
Orthodontic appliances can be sensitive to certain foods, like hard apples or sticky caramel, and some foods are more likely to get stuck in your braces. Help keep braces and Invisalign in working order, and consider avoiding foods like nuts, chips, harder vegetables, jolly ranchers, or beef jerky. This prevents damage to your orthodontic appliances and oral health.
5. Using an Interdental Brush
An interdental brush is a smaller, narrow brush that can help you reach harder-to-clean areas around your braces. Consider using it between the brackets and wires of your teeth to remove plaque or food particles that may be stuck. Some interdental brushes are designed to be reused if you keep them clean after each use.
6. Regular Bi-annual Appointments and Cleanings
To maintain oral health, see your dental hygienist on a six-month appointment basis. Consider brushing your Invisalign in the morning and evening to further keep your braces and Invisalign in good health. If you accidentally forget to remove your Invisalign while eating or drinking, gently clean it after. This can reduce the likelihood of food getting stuck between your teeth and Invisalign, which may affect oral health.
Orthodontist Florence KY
While undergoing orthodontic treatment, consider maintaining oral health by brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and more. At Orthodontic Specialists, we can provide more tips on how to maintain your oral health while using braces or Invisalign. For those who want fewer changes in maintaining oral health, opt for Invisalign, as you can remove them to eat, brush, and floss your teeth. Both braces and Invisalign are available with options to help straighten and maintain oral health. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and learn more about oral health using braces or Invisalign.