How To Take Care of Teeth With Braces

It would appear dental hygiene is only important to dental professionals. When we visit our dentists and orthodontists, we often feel like we do everything wrong. Maintaining a good dental hygiene routine is not hard people just need to know the rules and make a habit of it.

The system seems to fail to communicate how important it really is to brush our teeth at least twice a day, use mouthwash, and floss. And the same happens with orthodontics. Many people think that Irvine orthodontic treatments‘ only purpose is to give you a perfect smile.

It’s not only about how you look, which is also important, but a matter of overall health and well-being. It’s necessary to brush our teeth to avoid bad breath, but also to prevent cavities and infections. As a matter of fact, bad breath is often an indicator of oral health issues.

When we add orthodontic appliances such as conventional metal braces to the equation, our dental hygiene routine complicates a little. Bacteria thriving in your mouth during orthodontic treatment can slow down your treatment plan.

It’s not a big deal, but you need to know how to maintain oral hygiene with braces. The process is pretty much the same, with a twist. Interdental brushes will become your best friends.

Dental Health Problems Caused by Poor Dental Hygiene

We want to review dental health problems that come with poor oral hygiene habits, so you are aware of the consequences. Read a list down here.

• Dental Plaque: Oral bacteria is normal but not good. We always have a certain amount of bacteria living in our mouths. It’s high concentrations of biofilm that cause trouble. When you don’t brush constantly, bacteria accumulates it becomes dental plaque.
• Dental Tartar: Dentists also call it dental calculus, a form of hard dental plaque. The thing with dental tartar is that it’s the perfect hideout for bacteria. 
• Gingivitis: Gum disease first shows as gingivitis. Bleeding and sore gums are two of the first signs of gum infections. Gingivitis can be a consequence of dental tartar accumulation.
• Periodontal Disease: the next stage after gingivitis is periodontal disease. Allowing gum disease to advance can cause tooth loss, severe pain, and blood infections.
• Pulpectomy: Or root canal treatment. A pulpectomy is a dental procedure dentists try to save decayed teeth. Cavities can pierce the tooth’s enamel and dentin to the tooth’s pulp; this causes great pain and tooth loss.

Maintain Excellent Dental Hygiene With Braces

Maintaining oral hygiene with braces is easy. The main job is the same during your whole life: to brush your teeth, use fluoride toothpaste, and floss. Of course, brackets and archwires add a level of difficulty to the process.

As a patient, consider that misaligned teeth already pose difficulty to the cleaning routine. That is one of the main reasons why having straight teeth is paramount for your dental health. So, how can you follow an efficient cleaning routine with all of this?

Self-Threaders

An amazing tool for people with braces. Using dental floss is a key complement to brushing; flossing regularly is essential to any good oral hygiene routine. Dental floss helps eliminate the excess of oral bacteria surrounding the teeth.

Also, if any food particles get stuck between your teeth, dental floss is the perfect tool to eliminate them. Regular dental floss sometimes tears, and it’s hard to use with traditional braces. But self-threaders are the perfect solution for patients with metal brackets.

You can easily fit it between your teeth, and it won’t tear. Find them in local pharmacies or supermarkets.

Waterpik or Oral Irrigator

Water flossers are very common though many people do not know about them. A Waterpik is a tool to remove food particles and bacteria from nooks in your mouth and between your teeth. It does not replace conventional dental floss but enhances flossing.

An oral irrigator works with pressured water directed by you through the tip. It’s easy to use and safe.

Interdental Brushes

A tool as revolutionary as self-threaders. Life with conventional braces has been so much easier since these tools were invented. With an interdental brush, you can reach the space behind your metal wires and each side of the brackets.

If you eat the wrong thing, you can get food stuck in your braces, but interdental brushes can help you remove all those particles.

What Are Interdental Brushes?

The name can sound strange, but interdental brushes are very simple to use. A small elongated brush with tiny bristles perfect to fit in nooks and crannies.

You can find them in different sizes and shapes to fulfill different needs. The most common ones have a short stick for you to move across your mouth comfortably. Or you can find them as an accessory to a conventional brush.

Oral Hygiene With Invisalign

On the other hand, Invisalign supposes a big change in the life of an orthodontic patient. Dental patients can clean their teeth normally since clear aligners like Invisalign are removable.

The instructions are still the same for invisible aligners; you still have to brush your teeth twice a day, preferably after every meal. Using dental floss and mouthwash is necessary as well.

The main difference is that you won’t need interdental brushes or self-threaders because you will have clear access to your teeth.

Orthodontist Treatment Near Me in Irvine, CA

Finding orthodontics services in Irvine can be easy. Hong Orthodontics is one of the best options for adult orthodontic treatment in the city of Irvine. Dr. Justin Hong is a certified orthodontist and the one creating beautiful smiles for both children and adults in his dental home.

At Hong Orthodontics, you can find the ideal treatment to align your smile since we cover orthodontics, from traditional metal braces to cutting-edge technologies such as Invisalign.

Set an appointment and find your dental office here in Irvine.