Lots of people young and old are going through orthodontic treatment. Braces are not very much standard practice and gone are the days when people felt embarrassed or worried about what people say when they started their treatment. One thing you need to keep on top of if you are straightening your oral health as it’s common practice for those undergoing orthodontic treatments teeth and gum health to deteriorate with decay and gum disease.
Benefits of Braces
First, let’s take a look at why we might want to straighten our teeth in the first place. Other than the most obvious being that lots of people prefer the cosmetic appearance of straighter teeth there are some functional benefits too. Lots of people don’t take into account that straighter teeth are just easier to clean and the easier they are to clean the easier it is to maintain a healthy smile. It’s also not well known that teeth that fit together in correct alignment are less prone to breaking, chipping, or over-wearing. There is also evidence to support that aligned teeth can assist those suffering with chewing and digestion issues and even people suffering with clenching and migraines.
How To Practice Full Oral Hygiene With Braces
Oral hygiene is important. You need to brush your teeth every day, twice a day but you wouldn’t be doing harm if you chose to brush after every meal, particularly if you’ve eaten something with a high sugar or starch content.
How and where are you brushing? When you’re wearing braces and I’m looking especially at fixed metal or ceramic braces now, it can be really hard to reach the areas of build-up. You need to invest in a brace brush which is a soft bristle straight brush that can reach between your brace plates.
Flossing once a day is also really important. Now, when you’re wearing wire braces this can be tricky, but it could be worth investing in a water flosser, which is a tool designed to floss teeth without string. This method is excellent as a substitute, but you should consult your dentist before using in case the pressure from the water is capable of damaging your braces.
If you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment through Invisalign London then the above likely doesn’t apply to you in terms of difficulty cleaning. Invisalign London is a removable system which means patients can reach to clean their teeth as they would have done prior to brace treatment. For this reason, Invisalign is becoming increasingly popular.
It’s also a good idea no matter what brace system you are using to start swilling with an antimicrobial mouth rinse. These will help just clear away any left behind bacteria your clean hasn’t quite managed. Mouthwash or rinses are never to be used instead of cleaning but are there as an extra tool in your cleaning kit.
Finally, see your dentist regularly. Depending on which orthodontic system you use will influence how often you are booked in to see the dentist but it’s important you keep on top of and honour those appointments so your dentist can tackle any disease or decay early.