If you want to have strong and healthy teeth, then you must come up with a daily oral hygiene routine. Your routine should entail, flossing daily, using antibacterial mouthwash, and keeping up with your dental appointments. However, brushing your teeth is arguably one of the best ways to ensure good overall dental hygiene. In fact, dentists recommend brushing your teeth after every meal or at least twice daily. Brushing your teeth with braces can seem difficult, but in reality, it is easy. All you need to do is to learn the right technique. Here are a few tips to consider when brushing your teeth;
Choosing The Right Toothbrush
The first thing that you need to consider is to choose the right toothbrush. Even though a regular toothbrush can work, consider getting a toothbrush designed for people with braces. It should have a round head, narrow neck, and flexible bristles. This type of toothbrush will be more effective at cleaning your teeth. This is because it will successfully dislodge food particles that are trapped in the brackets and wires of your braces.
The Best Brushing Technique
When brushing your teeth, you will need an electric or traditional toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. The fluoride will help to maintain strong and healthy teeth. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush gently. You need to use circular motions when brushing as you softly brush the tops of the bracket. The next step is to change the angle of your toothbrush so that you can brush under the brackets and wires. Make sure that you brush each tooth and the tongue. Do not forget to brush the gums gently.
Take Your Time
It is important that you do not rush brushing your teeth, especially when you have braces. In fact, dentists recommend brushing your teeth for two to three minutes. Taking your time will ensure that you can dislodge any food particles stuck in between the brackets and wires. Brushing your teeth quickly with a lot of force will also help to ensure that you do not damage the wires of the braces.
It may tempt you to skip flossing because flossing with braces can be hard. However, you should not skip this step, as it is important in your oral hygiene routine. This is because flossing helps to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. To make it easier to floss, opt for a floss threader. A floss threader will allow you to floss behind the braces wire.
