Taking good care of your braces, whether you have metal or ceramic braces, will make them more comfortable and effective, meaning you’re a step closer to the perfect smile!
Perfecting your brushing technique is always important, but it becomes especially important when undergoing orthodontic treatment, as it is much easier for pieces of food to get trapped in the brackets and cause plaque.
We recommend the following 5 step oral hygiene routine during your orthodontic treatment:
- Use a toothbrush with a small, soft head to access those hard-to-reach areas.
- Brush for 4 minutes and try to brush at least 3 times a day.
- Start off by brushing your braces and teeth using big circles. Use firm pressure so that the bristles of the brush can get past the braces to clean your teeth as well.
- Next hold your toothbrush at a downward angle on the top of your brackets, and then at an upward angle to clean the bottom of your brackets, making sure the bristles of your brush get underneath the wire. You may need to jiggle the toothbrush a little.
- Don’t forget to also clean along your gum line on the top and the bottom to prevent any food and bacteria entering the gums.
If the correct brushing technique is not used, when your braces are removed, you may see permanent white-spot lesions on the teeth, due to de-mineralisation of the tooth surfaces.
If you have any questions during your orthodontic treatment, just ask Dr Mehta and his team including dental hygienists and we will be more than happy to guide you.
