Orthodontic Oral Hygiene in Farmington Hills, MI
Brushing Your Teeth With Braces
Brushing and flossing after every meal is critical when wearing braces to maintain your teeth and gums healthy during your orthodontic treatment. If you need assistance selecting the proper toothbrush, toothpaste, or dental floss, please contact us so that we can assist you in selecting the best supplies for your teeth and appliance.
Be sure to brush your teeth using a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for two minutes after each meal. You can also use a powered toothbrush to improve the effectiveness of your brushing. Brush your teeth on the exterior and interior surfaces in small, gentle circular motions, keeping the toothbrush head at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as the inside surfaces of your front teeth, with brief, gentle back-and-forth motions. Keep an eye on the regions surrounding your brackets and other appliances.
Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use a powered toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
Flossing With Braces
Flossing after each meal will keep your teeth and braces clean, which will help you stay on track with your treatment. When flossing with braces, thread the floss behind each wire using a floss threader or specific orthodontic floss. Wrap the floss ends over both hands’ pointer fingers, leaving a few inches of taut floss between them.
Using a back-and-forth motion, gently move the floss between each pair of teeth. Floss beneath the gum line on the sides of each tooth to remove plaque and food particles. Rep this procedure until all of your teeth have been flossed. Ask us about a water flosser if your floss isn’t removing all of the food particles between your teeth and around your braces.