Dental Hygiene and Braces

If you are wearing traditional braces to straighten your teeth or correct bite problems in your mouth, it is vitally important to practice good daily oral hygiene. This is also the case if one of your children is currently wearing traditional braces.

It is very important to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth everyday while you are wearing braces to remove any food particles that are stuck on your teeth behind and around the metal braces. Failure to remove particles from behind and around your metal brackets can cause the teeth to become stained and discolored.  This discoloration becomes very apparent when the metal brackets are removed.

Traditional metal braces cost thousands of dollars. You don’t want to spend all that time and money straightening your teeth or your child’s teeth to end up with stained unattractive teeth!

There are a variety of tools that can be used to remove food particles from your teeth. These include a regular toothbrush, an electric toothbrush, traditional dental floss, dental floss with picks, and dental picks. A good rule of thumb to use when brushing your teeth is to brush for two minutes. This may not sound like a very long time but it can seem long when you are brushing.

While the metal braces are on your teeth, it is especially important to visit your dentist at least every six months for a dental cleaning and checkup. Your dental hygienist has access to certain tools that are highly effective in removing plaque and tartar from your teeth. Your dental cleanings also provide a great opportunity for your dental hygienist to give you tips about how to best clean and maintain your teeth and gums while wearing braces.