Whether you have braces or not, simply brushing your teeth twice per day does not ensure that your mouth will be cavity-free for the rest of your life. Instead, you must practice a wide array of great oral health habits to ensure that your oral hygiene is superb.
Watch What You Eat and Drink
You may think that oral hygiene is only related to how you care for your teeth with a brush and floss. However, good oral hygiene with braces actually begins with what you put into your mouth. As such, you need to avoid certain foods.
Brush and Floss Daily
This is most likely something that you learned about in grade school, but it remains just as important for your oral hygiene now that you’re an adult. You should be brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice per day. You may want to consider brushing after every meal to reduce tartar buildup following meals, especially when wearing braces. Try to brush for two minutes at a time, and carefully brush your teeth, tongue, gums and the roof of your mouth. Flossing should be done once per day to reach those areas between the teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach.
Consider a Mouthwash
Mouthwash can do more than just freshen your breath, although it is an ideal way to feel ready to go in the morning. Mouthwash can also reach all of those areas between your teeth that neither your toothbrush nor your floss can reach. This is especially important when wearing braces.
Have Regular Visits
To maintain optimal oral hygiene while undergoing orthodontic treatment, it is important to keep your follow-up appointments.
This just scratches the surface when it comes to helpful oral hygiene tips. We can help you when you visit us at Unique Orthodontics. We have offices located in Buchanan, Fresno, Clovis, Madera, and Tulare (coming soon). Contact us today to set up your first appointment.