How To Prevent Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

There’s nothing left to be argued when it comes to the importance of proper oral hygiene. It’s a vital daily task that you need to do to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free from decay. However, if you visited an orthodontist Reston and recently got your braces, maintaining your dental health becomes more challenging — you need to put in a little more effort than just brushing your teeth regularly.

Concerned about how to prevent tooth decay while wearing braces? Then, this article is for you. Read on to know how to maintain good oral hygiene while having these dental gears.

The Need for Wearing Braces

Do you have spacing issues between your teeth? Or tooth protrusion? Or teeth crowding? One traditional way of correcting these orthodontic problems (medically known as malocclusions) is to wear dental braces. This wire-based corrective measure is used by an orthodontist Reston to straighten teeth with constant pressure.

While it has been proven effective, one known flip-side of wearing these braces is the increased difficulty in getting rid of bacteria and food debris in your mouth. When not taken care of, it can lead to tooth decay and other dental problems like demineralization and gingivitis.

Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene

Any orthodontist Reston would advise you to pay attention to the health of your teeth when you have braces. This could be done using the following tips:

Know how to properly brush your teeth

Brushing your teeth with dental braces can be a little bit different than what you used to do when you wore none. Therefore, it’s important to learn the proper way of doing so.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your teeth at an angle of 45 degrees against your gums. When brushing, use a circular motion on each tooth to ensure the metals and wires attached to them are thoroughly cleaned.

If your dentist has fitted you with elastics, don’t forget to remove them before brushing your teeth.

Brush regularly, especially during every after a meal

Theintricated design of this wire-based appliance makes it easier for food debris to get trapped in between your teeth, and in the braces themselves. This is why it’s important to brush regularly, especially every after taking a full meal.

Be strict with your diet and eat braces-safe foods

Speaking of meals, part of your oral care routine is the avoidance of foods and beverages that can be dangerous for your braces. Braces-safe foods include soft-cooked meat, poultry and seafood, eggs, pasta, soup, low-acid fruits (e.g. Bananas, mangoes, carrots, lettuce), milk, and water.

Get your teeth and braces checked regularly

Don’t ignore the importance of regular dental check-ups, especially if you’re wearing dental braces. Regular brushing is often not enough to clean your teeth. By visiting your dentist regularly, you’d have the chance to get them cleaned meticulously and professionally. Your dentist can also check if there are any more dental concerns that need to be resolved immediately.

At Stang Family Orthodontics, we offer a complete line of services geared toward giving you back that perfect smile. Contact us today and book an appointment with an orthodontist Reston.