One of the most important aspects of your orthodontic treatment is ensuring you maintain an exceptional brushing routine.
Brushing is not only important for the health of your teeth and gums, but also ensures that you are not left with any permanent scars on your teeth which are very difficult to remove.
Scars occur when there is a buildup of plaque, which acid-producing bacteria subside in. Eventually, bacteria can cause tooth decay, bad breath, and can result in scars which are visible once your braces are removed. Additionally, the bacteria have the potential to cause gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease.
Throughout your braces treatment, Dr Mehta and our orthodontic team of hygienists will give you a score on your oral hygiene at each of your adjustment visits to ensure you maintain good oral hygiene. The following steps will get you 5 stars at your next visit!
Step 1:
Ensure you massage around the braces and along the gums in circular motions. This will remove any leftover food and also assist in keeping your gums nice and healthy, as the brushing is removing any bad bacteria that reside along the gumline.
Step 2:
Next, you should use the bristles of your toothbrush and place them underneath the wire, and wiggle left and right. You can also use your pixter brush (also known as the Christmas tree brush) by bending the tip and placing it underneath the wire.
Step 3:
Brush underneath the braces in circular motions, behind the teeth, followed by the chewing surface to ensure you brush the entire surface area of each tooth.
Step 4:
We recommend that you floss at least once per day to ensure that your gums are kept happy and clean. Thread the floss underneath the wire on each tooth and then floss as normal.
The above steps should take 4 minutes in total and should be repeated twice per day, once in the morning and once before bed. We recommend setting a timer to ensure that you are keeping to this length of time.
By following these steps, we can ensure that you will keep your general dentist, orthodontist, and your teeth, very happy. We look forward to seeing your five-star brushing routine at your next orthodontic visit with Dr Mehta and our team!
For more information, please see our TikTok video on brushing techniques.
