Today’s world is fast-paced and full of work, school, getting to the gym, and whatever other extracurriculars you can fit into your schedule. It can be hard to find the time to do things for yourself! That’s why a new year is the perfect excuse to finally focus on making some of the positive changes you’ve been putting off, like straightening your smile. If you’re looking to take your oral health to the next level in 2019, Brodsky Orthodontics is here to help! We want to keep your teeth and gums looking and feeling great while undergoing orthodontic treatment, so we’ve put together a few of our favorite tips for keeping your smile in shape this year! Keep reading below to learn more.
Take a closer look at your oral habits
Most of us have an oral hygiene routine we’re comfortable with, but it’s worth reviewing that every once in a while. Recommendations can change from time to time, and you’ll want to be sure you’re doing all you can to keep your mouth healthy. It’s no secret that brushing and flossing daily is the best way to clean your teeth, but you may not realize that how you carry out these tasks is almost as important as how often you do them. To successfully rid yourself of the bacterial plaque that cause cavities and tooth decay, there are a few basic steps you should follow. In order to clean your teeth and gums efficiently and effectively, try:
- using a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste
- brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time
- brushing gently at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline, moving the toothbrush across all surfaces of the teeth to remove bacteria and any trapped food particles
- brush around every part of your braces if you wear them
- flossing every night to remove any bacteria and food that has accumulated throughout the day
- using antimicrobial and fluoride mouthwashes as needed
- replacing your toothbrush as soon as it begins to show signs of wear, or when you’ve had a cold or any other illness
Even though all of us should be taking our oral health seriously, it’s even more imperative when you’re an orthodontic patient. This is especially true if you’re wearing braces! That’s because the brackets and wires create nooks and crannies that take a little more time and effort to clean thoroughly. It’s important to keep both your mouth and your appliance free of debris to avoid tooth decay, cavities, and other issues.
Tips and reminders for Invisalign patients
If you’re using a clear aligner system like Invisalign to straighten your smile, you benefit from having a bit more freedom and flexibility than someone in traditional braces. That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook entirely, however! Patient compliance is essential for the system to work, so you still have some responsibilities. On top of maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine, you should always
- remove your aligners every time you eat or drink anything other than water
- wear your aligners for 20-22 hours every day, throughout the course of treatment
- change your aligners out on the schedule given to you by our doctors
in order to to get the best results with Invisalign. Failure to follow our recommendations may result in a longer treatment time. It can even affect the overall success of your treatment plan.
Take advantage of all the available tools
Like we briefly mentioned above, traditional braces can make for more complicated hygiene sometimes, especially in the early days. The good news is, there are many products on the market designed to make the process easier, and even more efficient!
One example of this is floss threaders. We love these alternatives to regular dental flossing! As the name implies, it threads a bit like a needle, and works by pulling one end of the floss through the threader, then feeding the threader under the archwire. This allows you to grab the floss on each end, sliding it up and down the sides of both teeth and under the gums for a thorough job.
Interdental brushes are another easy way to keep your teeth clean if you’re in braces. The brushes fit easily in between the wires and the teeth, so they’re better able to get rid of plaque and food debris in areas that can be hard to reach. Oral irrigators like Waterpiks clean similarly by shooting a targeted, high-pressure stream of water onto the teeth. This helps to remove any remaining food debris and plaque stuck between your teeth and braces.
Even though these products can be a useful part of caring for your teeth and gums, you shouldn’t use any of them in place of your normal oral hygiene routine. They’re for supplemental use, and work best when they’re being used in conjunction with regular brushing and flossing.
Stay prepared
In an ideal world, our patients would brush and floss after every meal, but we know that’s not always realistic! If you’re on the go often, or for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to anticipate the need for care on the go ahead of time. Stock a small bag with toothpaste, an orthodontic toothbrush, and floss. If you’re in braces, it’s smart to add some orthodontic wax, too. This way you’ll always have a quick fix with you in case any minor emergencies pop up!
Keep your smile in shape this year with Brodsky Orthodontics
At Brodsky Orthodontics, we have a talented team committed to giving you an aligned smile and rewarding experience. But our care doesn’t stop there! We’re also invested in increasing your oral health and your overall health. The simple tips above give you a great start on that, but if you need a little extra help or encouragement, we’re here for that, too. We’re looking forward to working with you this year towards giving you the beautiful smile you want – and the healthy smile you deserve!