How to Keep Your Braces Clean and Healthy

Brackets and wires of your braces provide the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria and germs. If you don’t clean your braces regularly, they can build up plaque and bacteria. This can lead to cavities and gum disease. Our orthodontist in Hamilton, MT, and orthodontist in Stevensville, MT, explain the methods to keep your braces clean.

Flossing Regularly

Though braces make brushing your teeth easier, there are still areas around your mouth that your toothbrush cannot reach. In order to keep these areas clean, it is important to floss thoroughly once a day to remove food particles and plaque buildup.

In order to make flossing with braces even easier, there are a variety of tools that can be helpful. These include orthodontic floss threaders that make it easier to maneuver the floss under wires and around brackets, interdental cleaners, or a water pick to spray away debris from between teeth, and a tongue scraper for your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Please do not use toothpicks on your teeth. These can push or pull on your gums and cause irritation.

Rinsing After You Eat

When you eat food, it can often get stuck to your teeth or the brackets of your braces. Brushing and flossing will help remove this debris from your teeth, but rinsing with mouthwash will finish the job. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with water before you use your mouthwash to remove any extra particles of food that might be stuck in your mouth.

Mouthwash can get rid of bacteria buildup that you can’t see but still causes bad breath. Rinse well but do not swallow the mouthwash as it will irritate your stomach lining. If your teeth are sensitive, you can also dilute your mouthwash by mixing it in water. 

Eating Healthy Food

Healthy teeth start with a healthy diet, so be sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and avoid sugary foods and drinks. If you do have a sugary snack or drink, rinse your mouth out with water as soon as possible afterward. Drinking water will help wash away any sugars that may be left behind on your teeth. It’s also important to brush your teeth after every meal and before bed to keep bacteria off of your teeth and to keep your smile healthy and clean!

In addition to having a great diet, regular trips to the dentist’s office are also essential for keeping your braces clean. Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for regular cleanings and checkups. These appointments are crucial for keeping your teeth and gums healthy and strong so that you can keep your braces on for the recommended amount of time.

At your dental checkup, the dentist will clean away all of the plaque buildups that may have occurred since your previous appointment. This will keep your breath fresh and prevent tooth decay and gum disease from occurring over time. The dentist will also examine your teeth to check for any signs of decay or gum disease. If any signs are found, the dentist will treat the problem before it has a chance to worsen and cause you pain in the future. Visit our office today for your next dental checkup!

Get in touch with Carroll Orthodontics at 1116 W Main St, Hamilton, MT 59840, or 3920 US Hwy 93, Stevensville, MT 59870, or call (406) 363-2200 to learn more.