Maintaining Oral Hygiene with Braces
Myers Orthodontics specializes in braces, Invisalign, cosmetic dental procedures, and traditional oral health checkups. We earned that reputation by offering quality care in a comfortable, relaxing, and fun environment. In addition, we provide personalized care, treating everyone like a person instead of a number. The satisfied customers cement our status as a leading orthodontist facility in the Knoxville area.
After a Bearden orthodontist added braces to correct your smile, cleaning around them is challenging. That's because there are two sides to oral hygiene. You must eat the correct foods and change your oral care routine.
Oral Care From a Fountain City, TN Orthodontist
Brushing your teeth with braces is different from brushing your teeth without them. Brush around them to avoid damage. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean teeth above and below the braces.
Clean the top half of your upper teeth in a circular motion from back to front. It should be at a 45-degree angle, touching the gumline more than the braces. That removes food from the gums, teeth, and braces. Then, clean the bottom half of your upper with the angle facing downward. Be sure to clean the lower teeth and inside the mouth the same way.
The mouthwash and tongue scraper sections of oral health stay the same. However, flossing requires an extra step. Insert the string floss between the wire and teeth first, and clean between the teeth and the gumline. Repeat until every inch of your mouth is clean. Substitutes are water flossers and interdental floss.
Make it a habit to brush your teeth after every meal and snack. A substitute is swishing water around your mouth to remove food debris. Add an interdental brush to your daily routine. It slides between the wire and teeth to loosen food before brushing.
What Foods Are Safe to Eat?
Soft foods that are easy to chew are the best for braces. Don't eat hard, crunchy, sticky, and sugary foods. Hard and crunchy foods break brace wires and loosen brackets. Sugary foods and beverages cause tooth stains, cavities, tooth decay, and other dental issues. Sticky foods are hard to remove because they stick to teeth and braces. Processed foods are also on the list of foods to avoid. Contact a Bearden orthodontist to learn what foods are safe and unsafe for braces.
Achieving the perfect smile starts with visiting a Bearden or Fountain City, TN, orthodontist. A checkup tells the orthodontist the current condition of your teeth and the options to achieve a healthy and white smile. We also understand that your smile is a team effort, so practicing good oral hygiene and making appointments are essential. By doing your part, we can do our part. For more information, contact Myers Orthodontics at one of our locations.