BRUSHING AND FLOSSING
Food particles and plaque naturally accumulate on the teeth
and on braces. This process could lead to tooth decay and/or gum disease.
Proper oral hygiene is vital to prevent these problems from occurring
during your orthodontic treatment. The extra effort you give to keep
your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy will result in a much
better orthodontic outcome.
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Brushing
2
Flossing
3
Interdental Toothbrush
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Mouth Rinse
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Flouride
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Cleaning a Removable
Appliance
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BRUSHING
Dr. Kadan recommends that you use a soft bristled toothbrush
with moderate force and a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Place the toothbrush at an angle so that you feel the bristles
under your gum line and use small circular motions. Completely
clean each surface of every tooth in your mouth, including the
areas above, below and between each brace. Each surface of
every tooth should be scrubbed with 10 strokes of the toothbrush.
This should take 2-3 minutes. Concentrate on the DANGER ZONE:
The areas on your teeth located between the braces and your
gums. This is also the area that you would likely get staining
on your teeth if you did not brush well during the orthodntic
treatment.
Dr. Kadan recommends that you brush at least 4 times per
day: after breakfast, after lunch (or as soon as you get
home from school), after supper and at bedtime. Your
toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances,
so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray.
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1. Use a soft toothbrush
with a small amount of toothpaste. Completely clean each surface
of every tooth in your mouth, including the areas above, below
and between each brace. |
2. Use circular,
vibrating motions around the gum line. Scrub each surface of
every tooth with 10 strokes of the toothbrush. This should take
2-3 minutes. |
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3. Brush every
tooth slowly. Brush the upper teeth down. |
4. Brush the lower
teeth up. Also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth |
Remember that a toothbrush might not reach the areas
under the archwire properly. Proper oral hygiene also involves flossing
and the use of an interdental toothbrush (Proxybrush), and a topical
fluoride mouthrinse (ACT)!
Dr. Kadan also recommends electric toothbrush to facilitate
oral hygiene. Water picks are alos recommended as an aid to burshing
but not as a substitute.
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FLOSSING
Dental floss is a nylon thread that is used to remove food
particles and plaque from between the teeth. Flossing is more difficult
when you have braces on your teeth. A floss threader may be needed
to get the floss under the archwire. Dr. Kadan will provide some of
these for you in the beginning (note: floss threaders are reusable).
Use a piece of floss about 12 inches long. Use the floss threader
to get the floss under the wire. Slide the floss up and down along
the tooth surface. When the tooth is clean the floss will "squeak"
as you slide it up and down along the tooth surface. Be very careful
to not pull with too much force on your archwire.
Daily flossing is essential to your dental health. Often neglected,
flossing helps improve the overall health of your teeth and gums.
Flossing assists in cleaning many of the "hard to reach"
spots in your mouth, spots that regular brushing generally misses.
By flossing, you alleviate much of the plaque buildup that often causes
gum disease.
Although flossing is more difficult with braces, it is critical
to your orthodontic treatment. Always floss at least twice a day:
once after lunch, and once before bedtime. Proper flossing reduces
the risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay.
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1.
Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces. |
2. Floss carefully
around the gum area. |
INTERDENTAL TOOTHBRUSH
An interdental toothbrush (Proxabrush) is another aid you may
find useful to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy.
It can be used to clean under orthodontic wires and around braces.
Use this device slowly so you do not damage your braces.
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FLUORIDE
Dr. Kadan recommends the use of fluoride mouthrinse every evening.
For children and teenagers Dr. Kadan recommends ACT. After brushing
and flossing, take a mouthful of ACT and swish it around for
one minute making sure it reaches the surfaces of all teeth,
then spit it out making sure that you do not rinse or drink
water. Fluoride must stay on the teeth all night to provide
the ultimate protection against decalcification (white scarring).
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CLEANING A REMOVABLE APPLIANCE
All orthodontic appliances tend to accumulate food particles
and plaque just like teeth do. Every time you brush your teeth,
brush your removable appliance. Once a day you should soak your
appliance in a glass of room temperature tap water with a denture-cleaning
tablet, such as Polident or Efferdent. This will help prevent
plaque buildup and oral infections and will keep your appliance
tasting better.
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