Once you have your braces on, you may wonder how you are going to find your teeth underneath all of that metal. How can you be expected to brush your teeth when it seems like you can hardly see your teeth? Well, they are there, and they will need even more TLC than usual while you have your braces.
Usually, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. With braces, there are more places for food particles to collect, so you will need to brush your teeth at least 30 minutes after every meal. The optimum amount of time you would normally spend brushing is two minutes. With braces, you should go slower, and brush one or two teeth at a time.
First, rinse your mouth to get rid of as much food debris as you can. Then, brush along your gumline. After that brush from your gums down to the tops of your brackets, and then from your gumline to the bottom of the brackets. Then, brush along the wire. It can be frustrating to brush with braces in, so you should talk to the orthodontist about using a floss threader. When you are finished flossing, rinse your mouth again to remove any food particles loosened during brushing. With a little practice, you should become a brushing pro in no time.
If your dentist has suggested that it is time for you, or a member of your family to think about braces, our office will be happy to see you. If you live in the Irvine, California, [area], and would like to make an appointment at Irvine Dental Group, call 949-551-8877 today, and let’s get started on your brand-new smile!