{"id":1160,"date":"2017-10-12T20:12:27","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T02:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belmarorthodontics.bs1prkpw-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=1160"},"modified":"2022-10-18T01:02:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T01:02:55","slug":"teeth-cleaning-habits-good-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.belmarorthodontics.com\/teeth-cleaning-habits-good-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Your Teeth Cleaning Habits Good Enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cleaning<\/p>\n

Braces can keep your teeth straighter, making them more beautiful and attractive. However, if your teeth cleaning habits are poor, your smile will take a hit. How well you take care of your teeth before and during braces will be an indication of how your smile will be after your orthodontic care has come to an end. If you don\u2019t brush and floss the teeth enough, you might damage your smile and weaken your enamel. You must step up your cleaning routine during braces to make sure your smile isn\u2019t full of cavities and oral health problems at the end of your care. We can give you the proper recommendations and guidelines to ensure you keep your smile healthy and strong during your time with braces<\/a> and throughout life.<\/p>\n

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Brushing With and Without Braces<\/h2>\n

The American Dental Association<\/a> recommends brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice a day to keep your mouth healthy and to lower your risk for tooth decay and gum disease. We go beyond that twice-a-day recommendation and suggest that you brush your teeth after every meal. Because your braces can easily attract and trap food particles, brushing after each meal can help prevent staining and reduce the potential for bacteria buildup.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You should use a soft-bristled brush and use one that\u2019s size fits your mouth well. For teeth without braces, the ADA recommends brushing the teeth at a 45 degree angle. Brush each individual tooth, making sure to go all the way up to the gumline. You use a soft-bristled brush to avoid irritating the gums and eroding your tooth enamel. With braces, you want to brush down from the top, then up from the bottom on each tooth with a bracket. This will help dislodge food particles that have become trapped inside the brackets, which is extremely easy to do. Brushing your teeth multiple times a day is one of the best cleaning habits for avoiding decay.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Flossing the Teeth<\/h2>\n

We recommend flossing your teeth<\/a> at least once a day. However, that\u2019s for patients that don\u2019t have braces. When you have braces, it\u2019s even more important to floss each and every tooth. It\u2019s also much more time consuming, but the effort you put into your teeth cleaning habits will pay off in the long run. A toothbrush and mouthwash simply can\u2019t get in between the teeth like floss can, so if you skip flossing, you could have food sit and decay your teeth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You will have to use threadable floss or a floss threader to accomplish this feat with brackets. If you use a floss threader for your teeth, think of your cleaning habits like you\u2019re sewing. You floss the eye of the threader through your teeth and below the archwire. Then you floss the space, pull it out and thread once more. Make sure you don\u2019t apply force or pressure against the archwire as you do this. For some patients, it may take about 10 minutes to floss, but it\u2019s worth taking the time to avoid tooth decay.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Caring for Braces<\/h2>\n

Caring for your teeth becomes trickier with braces. You will find that you have to devote some extra time to caring for your braces, as you know have about 32 teeth that all have brackets that can collect food. During your time with braces, it is particularly important to maintain good oral health through attention to proper oral hygiene and cleaning habits. If you don\u2019t, you could have your braces removed only to find that many of your teeth have areas of tooth decay. You could also be left with demineralization that leaves marks on all your teeth where the brackets were.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When it comes to caring for your braces, it\u2019s not only important to clear away food particles that are on the teeth, but to be careful of what foods you put into your mouth. To avoid damage to your braces and your teeth during orthodontic treatment, you want to avoid hard foods, sticky foods, and foods high in sugar. This means you should avoid eating foods such as hard candy, chips, ice, apples, nuts, popcorn, carrots, corn on the cob, gum, caramel, taffy, licorice, gummies, and similar foods. Prevention is always key for avoid oral health issues!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Proper Teeth Cleaning Habits<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re going to spend 18-24 months straightening your teeth<\/a>, you might as well keep those teeth healthy so they look nice at the end of your treatment. Brush your teeth every single day, multiple times a day. Floss as well and be meticulous with your cleaning habits. The better care you take of your braces while they\u2019re on, the more you\u2019ll enjoy your smile when they come off. If you would like help with your cleaning habits or tips, call our Belmar Orthodontics<\/a> office today at (303) 225-9016!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Braces can keep your teeth straighter, making them more beautiful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[443,433,427],"tags":[459,455,513,507,456,479,514,515,458],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAre Your Teeth Cleaning Habits Good Enough? - Belmar Orthodontics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If your teeth cleaning habits are poor, you're at risk for tooth decay and gum disease. 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