At Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, it is our goal to help you transition to a beautiful, healthy smile. Wearing braces can straighten teeth, but your oral hygiene routine is what will create the beautiful and healthy part of your smile.
During treatment, it is even more important to take good care of your teeth and gums by brushing after every meal and flossing once a day. Braces offer many more hiding places for food resulting in an increased risk for plaque buildup or decay. You can avoid these risks by adopting a thorough cleaning routine during your orthodontic treatment and continuing it after braces for a lifetime of good oral health.
Hygiene Tips During Orthodontic Treatment
To avoid gum disease and other issues during orthodontic treatment such as decay, here are some dental hygiene tips to follow:
- Brush teeth after each meal.
- Floss once a day by threading floss under the archwire and getting in between teeth into the gums.
- Utilize alternative cleaning tools such as water flosser (Waterpik).
- Use dental picks as needed.
- Soak your retainer for a few minutes each day a cleaning agent made especially for retainers.
- Stay on schedule for regular dental checkups and cleanings.
- Maintain regular visits at the orthodontist.
Many orthodontic patients find water flossers extremely effective for removing lodged food particles. Water flossers provide gum stimulation as well. Tiny dental pick scrubbing brushes are useful for a particularly stubborn food particle. If you wear a retainer, check with your orthodontist for the preferred cleaning agent that works well for your particular retainer.
At Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we will set up regular appointments to evaluate your teeth and braces and make any adjustments necessary. Although you will visit with your orthodontist on a regular basis, regular dental visits are very important as well for X-rays, cleanings and a dental exam.
Most all people who have had orthodontic treatment consider it one of the best life-long investments. There simply is no substitute for the positive feeling bestowed by a beautiful smile. For more information on orthodontics or oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, please call us at 919.719.1780 or request an appointment online.