{"id":45,"date":"2019-05-20T11:09:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T11:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/?p=45"},"modified":"2020-10-08T06:59:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T06:59:26","slug":"how-to-brush-your-teeth-and-floss-with-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/how-to-brush-your-teeth-and-floss-with-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Brush Your Teeth and Floss With Braces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dealing with Plaque Around Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Braces<\/a><br> Take Care of Your Gums<br> Brushing With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Braces<\/a><br> Flossing With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Braces<\/a><br> Plan Regular Checkups<br> How to Take Care of Your Child\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Braces<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you or someone in your family wears <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>, take heart. Before you know it, you\u2019ll be flashing a confident smile if you keep these few things in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dealing with Plaque Around Your Braces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once teeth are straightened by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>, it is easier to\u00a0reach plaque on and between your teeth. But while wearing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>, plaque and food particles have additional places to accumulate and become trapped. <br> Be prepared to spend three times as long on your oral care while you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a> on your teeth. Don&#8217;t worry, it&#8217;s worth the time. If you don&#8217;t pay attention to oral hygiene while your teeth are being realigned, you increase your risk of gum disease. Plus, it can help your teeth look that much better when it&#8217;s finally time to get your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a> removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Take Care of Your\nGums After Braces with Electric Toothbrushes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While wearing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>, you might consider using the sensitive mode of your Electric Toothbrush. The sensitive mode oscillates at a lower speed for extra care and comfort along the gum line\u2014and around the brackets and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontic<\/a> wires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brushing with\nBraces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using an\u00a0Electric Toothbrush\u00a0makes this routine easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Get      started: <\/strong>Remove      elastics, bands, or removable parts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontic<\/a> appliances.<\/li><li><strong>Clean      your braces:<\/strong>\u00a0Carefully      clean around wires and pins.<\/li><li><strong>Brush      each wire:<\/strong>\u00a0Move      top to bottom, and all the way around upper and lower teeth.<\/li><li><strong>Brush      your teeth:<\/strong>\u00a0Dental      professionals recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice daily.      That means each quadrant of your mouth gets 30 seconds. Oral-B Electric      Toothbrushes have a built-in timer that pulses every 30 seconds to let you      know when to switch areas of the mouth. As you\u2019re brushing, make sure to      clean all areas of the tooth. Some people find they get the best clean      going tooth by tooth.<\/li><li><strong>Rinse,      and then check your teeth:<\/strong>\u00a0Rinse thoroughly. Examine teeth and      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a> in the mirror, and remember to look for any remaining food      particles.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flossing With\nBraces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although flossing with braces is tricky, you can\nget the hang of it with practice if you follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Floss      once a day:<\/strong>Use      waxed floss (unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your      braces), dental tape or a product specifically designed to clean around      your braces.\u00a0Use waxed floss and thread it carefully under the main      wire before passing between two teeth. Don\u2019t snap it\u2014simply move up and      down gently, remove, and move on to the next pair of teeth, which is self-threading      or regular floss with a floss threader to place above and below the      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontic<\/a> wire.<\/li><li><strong>Use      enough:<\/strong>About      18 inches of floss should suffice<\/li><li><strong>Thread      it carefully:\u00a0<\/strong>Take the floss and carefully thread it under      the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then      remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the      next pair of teeth<\/li><li><strong>Be      sure not to snap the floss<\/strong>&#8211; simply move it up and down gently against      the side of each tooth<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents: Do the flossing for younger children who lack the coordination to thread the floss under the main wire of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plan Regular\nCheckups<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontist<\/a> for checkups and adjustments is essential. He or she can repair broken pieces, answer general questions, and address any irregularities such as\u00a0cavities\u00a0or\u00a0every meal or snack\u00a0if you wear braces. And some dentists recommend a\u00a0fluoride mouthwash\u00a0to help control plaque buildup in the places that are tough to reach with a toothbrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to Take Care of Your Child\u2019s Braces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have a child with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>? The following points will help make your child&#8217;s daily brushing routine effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Before brushing<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Your child should      take off elastics and any other removable parts of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontic<\/a>      appliance. For removable appliances, take them out after every meal for      cleaning.<\/li><li><strong>Brush teeth<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; They should clean      each tooth individually. First, they should place their brush at a      45-degree angle from the gum line, then apply gentle pressure whilst      moving in a circular motion. They should do this for about 10 seconds,      using the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, and      tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front      teeth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Clean the braces<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Your child should      hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and brackets      of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>. They need to brush from the top of each wire down to the      bottom. They should take the time to ensure that all plaque and debris is      removed, and that they work all the way around upper and lower teeth. For      removable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces<\/a>, clean them over a sink filled with water. This helps to      prevent damage to the brace if you accidentally drop it. Brush the brace      with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove all food and debris.      Be careful not to damage the wires. Once it&#8217;s clean, put the brace back in      the mouth.<\/li><li><strong>Interdental brushes once a      day<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211;      Have their dental professional show them the best way to clean between the      teeth and braces. Also, they should follow the instructions on the product      package. They may also want to use an interdental product designed for      braces and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontic<\/a> work, like a single-tufted toothbrush or floss.<\/li><li><strong>Protecting your child&#8217;s      teeth<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Braces<\/a> put their teeth at greater risk of developing decay, therefore they      need to keep their teeth strong by using fluoride toothpaste. Brushing      should be undertaken twice a day at a minimum and preferably after every      meal.<\/li><li><strong>Fluoride concentration<\/strong> &#8211; If their dentist or      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontist<\/a> feels they are at\u00a0greater risk of tooth decay, they      may\u00a0increase the fluoride concentration\u00a0by (i) prescribing a      stronger toothpaste, (ii) applying fluoride varnish to their teeth two to      four times a year when they visit them or (iii) asking them to use a      fluoride mouthwash at a different time than tooth brushing.<\/li><li><strong>Spit, but do not rinse after      brushing<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013      Rinsing after brushing will wash away the fluoride toothpaste which is      needed to strengthen their teeth. This dilution effect is why even a      mouthwash straight after brushing is bad news as it dilutes the fluoride      around their teeth.<\/li><li><strong>Keep up regular visits<\/strong>\u00a0with their dentist and      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/orthodontics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">orthodontist<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dealing with Plaque Around Your Braces Take Care of Your Gums Brushing With [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8,4,5,11],"tags":[41,38,54,47,45,62,52,63,37,43,40,49,48,36,60,61,39,35,44,46,55,53,56,23,59,57,58,51,42],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-braces","category-ceramic-braces","category-dental-clinic","category-metal-braces","category-teeth","tag-best-cosmetic-dentist","tag-best-dental-clinic","tag-best-dentist-in-ahmedabad","tag-best-implant-dentist","tag-braces-treatment-in-ahmedabad","tag-child-dentist-in-ahmedabad","tag-cosmetic-dentist-in-ahmedabad","tag-cosmetic-implants-dentist-best-in-ahmedabad","tag-dental-clinic","tag-dental-clinic-in-ahmedabad","tag-dental-hospital","tag-dental-hospital-in-ahmedabad","tag-dental-implants-in-ahmedabad","tag-dental-treatment","tag-dental-treatment-in-ahmedabad","tag-dentist-ahmedabad","tag-dentist-in-ahmedabad","tag-dentist-india","tag-invisible-aligners","tag-invisible-braces-in-ahmedabad","tag-laser-dentist","tag-laser-dentist-in-ahmedabad","tag-oral-surgeon-in-ahmedabad","tag-orthodontist-in-ahmedabad","tag-painless-dental-treatment-in-ahmedabad","tag-root-canal-treatment-in-ahmedabad","tag-teeth-whitening","tag-top-dentist","tag-top-dentist-in-ahmedabad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":234,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions\/234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stavyadental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}