Brush, Brush, Brush

Brushing your teeth is always important, but it is even more important when you are wearing braces. Food can get stuck on your braces and cause staining, tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Here are some suggestions on when and how to brush your teeth.

Type of Toothbrush: You can use any brand of toothbrush you like. Try to buy one that is soft and has lots of bristles. Change your toothbrush often, no less than every three months. Toothbrushes are cheap compared to cavities.

If you prefer to use an electric toothbrush, Braun, Interplak, and SonicCare all make effective electric toothbrushes. Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric is a personal choice. Properly used, all are effective. If you choose an electric, remember that the brush heads need to be changed as frequently as a manual toothbrush, so keep several spares on hand. A worn out head is ineffective and will not remove plaque properly.

Type of Toothpaste: You should choose toothpaste that will motivate you to brush. Avoid frequent use of whitening toothpaste. Any toothpaste that has fluoride is preferred. Fluoride can protect and rebuild your tooth structure. Use a fluoride rinse (such as Act) before going to bed; this can be bought at any drugstore. 

Flossing: Flossing while you are wearing braces is more difficult, but well worth it. You can pick up a floss threader at any drugstore to making flossing easier.  Waterpik also makes an electric flosser that works well.  There are also special orthodontic flossers that are not available in stores, if you want more information on these let us know.

Dental Maintenance: We ask that you see your dentist for a cleaning at least every three to six months; depending on your need. Maintaining ideal hygiene with braces is very difficult even for a very diligent brusher.

Frequency of Brushing: Brush at least five times a day following this schedule:

• As soon as you wake up, brush really well (at least three minutes). Plaque has had all night to build up on your teeth, do this before you get dressed or eat breakfast so you won’t be rushed.

• After breakfast, give a quick brush. This is to remove breakfast from your teeth.

• After work/school, brush really well again. Plaque has been sitting on your teeth since the morning.

• After dinner, another quick brush.

• Before you go to bed, scrub them good. Now is the time to floss and use a fluoride rinse.

The schedule we have suggested takes very little time. Keeping your teeth clean will eliminate bad breath, damage to your teeth, bone loss, gum infection, and will speed up the removal of your braces.

Foods to Avoid

The goal of braces is simple: give you straight teeth and a terrific smile. To reach this end, however, you must hold up your end of the bargain by doing more than brushing and flossing regularly. Not to spoil your appetite, but some foods can loosen or break braces and should be scratched from your menu—at least until the braces come off.  Here are your braces’ biggest enemies:      

• Apples: Cut up the apple first, then you can eat it.
• Bagels and hard rolls
• Beef jerky
• Bubble gum: You do not want to spend hours removing gum from your braces.
• Candy canes or suckers
• Caramels and chewy candies
• Chicken wings: remove the meat from the bone before enjoying these.
• Corn chips
• Corn on the cob: Cut the kernels from the cob before eating.
• Fingernails
• Fruit Roll-Ups
• Gummi anything
• Hard candies
• Hard cookies: You can have these if you soften them with milk.
• Ice cubes
• Nuts: All varieties—including peanuts, cashews and almonds—are off limits.
• Pears: Just like you would with apples, cut them into thin wedges first.
• Peanut brittle
• Pens and pencils
• Pickles: Cut them into bite-sized pieces.
• Popcorn
• Pizza Crust: Eat the rest of the pie, but skip the crust
• Pretzels
• Raw carrots: Steam or boil them for a much less crunchy consistency.   You can also shred them.
• Ribs: Remove meat from the bone first.
• Sugary candy
• Taffy: It’s best to avoid this stuff entirely—even if you don’t have braces!

Overall avoid foods that are Hard, Crunchy, Sticky, or Chewy. 

If you have any question, please be sure to ask us.