Proper oral hygiene is essential, especially during orthodontic treatment. The wires and brackets involved have many crevices that can trap plaque and food, putting you at a higher risk of decay and gum problems.
Failure to keep your teeth and brackets clean may permanently damage tooth enamel. It's important that you take special care of your braces, teeth and gums each day - to avoid these problems and ensure you achieve optimal treatment results.
You’ll receive a hygiene kit after we place your braces and/or appliances. This kit will contain a travel toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, wax, floss, floss threaders, plaque disclosing tablets, Kanka or Zilactin B, a brushing timer, a Proxabrush, and fluoride rinse information. These items can also be purchased at local drugstores for your convenience.
Foods to Avoid
In most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar, must be avoided. Hard foods, such as jerky, pretzels, popcorn and hard candy, can break or damage appliances. Sticky foods, such as caramel, taffy, licorice, gummy bears and sugar daddies, can get caught between wires and brackets. Minimize sugary foods like cookies and ice cream; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Apples and carrots should be cut up into small pieces. You can chew sugarless gum such as Trident or Freedent. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing, and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
Brushing & Flossing
The best way to ensure a healthy smile is brushing and flossing. You should use a toothbrush with soft bristles to brush your teeth four times a day, to avoid the accumulation of food particles. Be sure to brush...
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch, or right after school
- After supper
- At bedtime
You'll need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear out, replace your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire. Don't swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. After brushing, it's important to floss and use a fluoride rinse.
Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the Proxabrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxabrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Peroxyl, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks. Peroxyl helps prevent infection and decreases irritation that may develop from braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute and then spit. You may use Peroxyl up to four times daily, following your schedule for brushing. Just like using peroxide for a scrape on your skin, Peroxyl helps the inside of your mouth heal. It can be used for general irritation, including canker sores, cheek bites and other minor, temporary oral injuries. Peroxyl is available over the counter at most drug stores.
Topical Fluoride
Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel that helps prevent tooth decay while you're wearing braces. It kills bacteria and replaces minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily brushing schedule. Place a small strip of Phos-Flur on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and then spit. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you use Phos-Flur. It's important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for half an hour, so be sure to not wash it away by drinking or snacking. A prescription isn't needed, but you'll need to ask your pharmacist for this product.
Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable appliance every day as part of your regular brushing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance, just as they do on your teeth, be sure to soak the appliance daily.
Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent, or other denture-cleaning tablet in a glass of tap water at room temperature and soak your appliance once every day. Your appliance will taste better, and you'll prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.