Patients who have received braces for the first time may wonder how to implement routine dental care for teeth that are now covered by metal or ceramic brackets. Wires can get in the way of daily flossing, and it can be difficult to brush around the components of new braces. Use the following tips to create a new dental routine as well as to banish uncertainty when it comes to caring for your new braces.
A braces patient’s new routine dental care may look slightly different, but the basic principles of caring for teeth should remain the same. Brushing and flossing are a little more complicated, but most patients quickly adapt.
Patients should brush twice a day: This part of the routine should not change upon receiving braces, either metal or ceramic. Even clear aligners can be removed for regular brushing, and this type of braces may make routine dental care easier on patients who do not want to deal with brackets and wires that can get in the way.
Though the routine can stay the same, the type of brush may need to change. Using an electric toothbrush can be a quicker and easier way to brush around braces, and the smaller heads of these toothbrushes can more easily reach the molars as well.
Many patients swear by various types of water flossers that work by using a sharp burst of water to clean all the nooks and crannies of the mouth. Thanks to the concentrated pressure of the water, this type of instrument can effectively clean in between wires and other types of dental appliances that are attached to braces.
Regular flossing can be performed with the same type of floss the patient previously used, but a special instrument may need to be used to “thread” the floss between the wires. This practice can be cumbersome to complete every day, which is why a water flosser can save time and potentially help the patient floss more thoroughly.
Routine dental care, including cleanings, can be managed with braces. Depending on the dentist’s preference as well as the patient’s, patients may be able to have the wires removed for a thorough cleaning. If a dentist suspects a cavity, braces do not necessarily prevent a dentist from filling it. Treatment of minor cavities a week before the patients get braces removed can likely be delayed until the removal, but a more serious cavity should be filled immediately.
While routine dental care for patients with braces may be a bit more complicated than before, it is important to keep teeth healthy as they undergo the straightening process. Caring for teeth with braces is not too different from brushing and flossing without braces. Patients should ensure that good dental health is maintained throughout the months or years in which orthodontics are worn to prevent future dental problems.
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