Practicing good oral hygiene is key to maintaining healthy teeth while in ortho. We recommend brushing your teeth multiple times a day:
-in the morning
-after lunch
-before bedtime
-ideally after every meal
ORAL HYGIENE WHILE IN ORTHODONTICS
We also want you to continue seeing your general Dentist every 6 months for regular check ups and dental cleanings.
TIPS FOR GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
Rinse for 30 seconds before brushing your teeth to help loosen all the plaque and food off of your teeth.
Use a power or manual toothbrush to brush your teeth above and below each bracket at an angle to effectively clean your braces. It is also important to brush along the gum line to remove any plaque or trapped debris.
*Then repeat the same process on the bottom teeth
We love the Philips One by Sonicare electric toothbrush. It is thin and light so it can easily be put into a backpack or purse to be used when you are on the go.
You can purchase this toothbrush at the following retailers:
When flossing, we recommend using Oral B Threader Floss. They have a stiff end that is easy to guide between the brackets and under the wire. Once it is under the wire you can continue to floss like normal, making sure you wrap the floss around the tooth making sure to get the floss and under the gum tissue. Once you have flossed on both sides you can just pull the threader floss through and move onto the next tooth.
Some patients also benefit from using a Waterpik for a little extra help. This device uses water to flush out any food debris and plaque from between the teeth.
When undergoing orthodontic treatment, white spots can develop if plague is allowed to remain “around the brackets and along the gum line” for an extended period of time without proper brushing and flossing.
GOOD ORAL HYGIENE IS CRITICAL DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT.
Since the bonding material that glues the bracket to each tooth creates and air tight seal, you seldom see white marks or cavities underneath the braces but instead will see it around where the braces were placed and along the gum line after braces are removed.
DIET PLAYS A PART IN GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
In order to keep your treatment timeline on track you will want to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that may loosen or break off your braces or bonded appliances. It is also important to avoid sugary drinks and foods. Sugary and acidic foods and drinks can cause white spots and damage to the enamel of your teeth which may lead to cavities.
FOODS TO AVOID:
-HARD FOODS such as ice, apples, carrots, corn on the cob, nuts, hard/chewy granola or energy bars, crispy/thick breaded chicken, peanut brittle or toffee, pretzels, jerky, popcorn, hard pizza crust, candy pieces in ice cream, hard chips (Doritos, crunchy Cheetos), hard candy (jolly ranchers, peppermints, butterscotch, caramels, jaw breakers, now and later candy, suckers, etc.)
-Also, you will want to avoid STICKY and/or CHEWY FOODS such as fruit snacks, licorice, caramel apples, candy that is sticky or chewy (gummies, Laffy Taffy, Snickers, Twix, Butterfingers, Baby Ruth, Sugar Babies, Starburst, Tootsie Rolls, Airheads, Skittles, Bubble gum, etc.)
DRINKS TO AVOID:
-SOFT DRINKS: It does not matter if they are diet, regular, clear or dark; they all have the potential to to damage teeth. Did you know that soft drinks contain 9-12 tablespoons of sugar per 12oz serving! The bacteria that leads to cavities survives by eating the sugar and once it is digested by the bacteria, it creates even more acid.
-JUICES: Orange juice, apple juice, and lemonade are just a few examples of very acidic juices that may be damaging to your teeth.
-MILK: All types of milk have sugar
-SPORT/ENERGY DRINKS: These drinks are designed to have higher acidity levels to keep the shelf life longer, but the effects on the teeth can be dangerous and dissolve tooth enamel which makes it weaker. *Athletes who drink the sports drinks are more at risk because their activity levels decrease saliva production which is responsible for regulating acidity in the mouth.
*IF you decide to drink any of the above beverages, we recommend doing so in moderation while in your braces. Here are some tips for consuming acidic or sugary drinks:
Only drink them with a meal. Chewing your food will help minimize the risk of acid attaching to your enamel
Don’t sip on any of these drinks throughout the day
Drink them out of a straw that is placed towards the back of your mouth. This will minimize “bathing” your teeth in the acid
Rinse your mouth out with water and brush your teeth after finishing every sugary or acidic beverage
If you play sports and want a beverage to help hydrate while , we recommend using LMNT. LMNT is a sugar free Electrolyte drink mix that you add to water; LMNT delivers electrolytes without the sugar, junky fillers, or artificial coloring found in other “sports drinks.” LMNT can be purchased through their website; there are multiple flavor options to choose from on.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A LOOSE/BROKEN APPLIANCE, BRACKET, OR WIRE?
If you do have a bracket, wire, or appliance come loose it is important to call our office right away and schedule a repair appointment. Even if you have an ortho appointment scheduled for the same day, we want you to call and let us know because it takes preparation by our team to get ready for a repair, so we want to have an advanced notice. Make sure you save any loose or broken off braces or appliances and remember to bring them with in a small plastic bag to your repair appointment. Consistent breakage can cause delays in your treatment which means you will be in your braces longer.
KEEP YOUR SMILE SAFE!
If you play sports it is important to wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you are playing. Do not use melt-able mouth guards! We will provide you with a special orthodontic mouth guard- simply ask your assistant or an associate at the front desk. The mouthguards we supply are soft and comfortable yet tough, one size fits all, ready to wear, so no molding, no boiling. It covers both top AND bottom teeth for double protection. As an added bonus they come in lots of great colors so you can pick your favorite color or sport one that matches your team colors!
