Whether you’re dealing with crowding, an overbite, or other misalignment issues, orthodontic treatments can perfect your smile and increase your self-confidence. Don’t let decay get in the way of your transformation. Use the following three pointers to ensure your teeth stay clean and healthy until your braces come off.

How to Maintain Dental Health With Braces

1. Use the Proper Technique

To fully dislodge the food around your teeth, hold a toothbrush with soft bristles at a 45-degree angle facing your gumline. Then, clean the brackets on either side by angling the bristles to the floor and ceiling, using small, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Finally, use an interdental brush—which has a smaller, cylindrical head—and insert it underneath the wires to clean out food trapped between brackets.

2. Brush More Often

While the proper technique is crucial, it’s also wise to increase the frequency of your brushing during your orthodontic treatment period. Instead of just brushing in the morning and before bed, pack a toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste in your purse or backpack. Head to the bathroom to brush after eating lunch, so the bacteria and acids from food and drinks don’t remain stuck on your smile for hours.

3. Don’t Forget to Floss

Although it’s tempting to skip this step at the end of a long day, flossing is even more vital for patients with braces. However, you can’t force the floss down the length of your teeth with the wires in the way. To clean out the plaque near the gums, use a floss threader to snake the floss behind the wires, then pull it toward the base of your teeth.

If you’re looking for more orthodontic care tips, turn to Mark Stephens DMD of Richmond, KY. He has over 20 years of experience and is proud to offer a pain-free, friendly office environment. In addition to routine dental services, he also provides periodontal treatments, crowns, bridges, and dentures. To learn more about the practice’s services, visit the website. Call (859) 626-0069 to schedule your next checkup.