When we have braces or are getting some form of orthodontic treatment, our specialists recommend that we develop a cohesive hygiene routine. This is because your oral health can be affected when we have any form of treatment as they can make it harder to get to specific bits of our mouth. We don’t want our oral health to be affected as a result of our treatment! This is why we have done the research for you and compiled a list of the three most important hygiene rules to follow with braces. Keep reading to find out some more.
We are taught from a very early age to floss our teeth to get rid of all the bacteria and plaque build-up in our mouths. This build-up usually occurs from the foods we eat and sugar; if not properly dealt with, the build-up can sadly lead to oral health issues such as cavities and gum disease. None of us wants that! With braces, it is recommended that you floss or use interdental brushes before brushing or rinsing. Flossing rids the crevices of your mouth of plaque, food and other bacteria. This is why we should brush after flossing, to get wash all of the debris away. There is little point in flossing after brushing because that can leave the build-up in our mouths until we brush again.
Brush three times daily
Usually, we brush our teeth and gums twice per day in the morning and evening. However, with braces comes some extra responsibility. Food is more likely to get stuck in the braces leading to decay. Therefore, dental experts recommend that we brush our teeth three times daily to keep up with and maintain great oral hygiene. Additionally, we recommend that you choose a toothpaste with a high fluoride content as this has been proven to kill bacteria. With that being said, be careful not to brush too hard as this can result in enamel loss and even damage your orthodontic treatment. We don’t want any extra trips to the orthodontist!
Avoid problem foods
Another general rule of thumb to follow when we have braces is to avoid problem foods. Certain foods have been known to break braces and retainers including hard sweets and harder foods
such as apples, for example. Therefore, instead of simply biting into an apple, you can cut it up and eat it that way. You’re not wholly restricted in terms of diet when having orthodontic treatment, but it is in your best interest to watch what you’re eating. Doing this will also save potential food build-up in the mouth – it becomes a pain when we can’t get to food stuck in between our
wires!
To prevent issues like this, orthodontic specialists such as Straight My Teeth offer removable aligners. This helps keep your mouth as clean as can be and allows you to keep your
aligners sterile. Why not find out more information about aligners?
Follow these rules to make sure your mouth stays in great shape when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
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