Saskatoon – Stephenson Orthodontics
Taking care of your teeth will be a little more difficult once you get braces. But don’t worry, it will soon become routine! It’s very important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss at least once a day. This may seem tedious, but neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to oral health problems, causing you to spend additional time in braces. It can also cause permanent staining on your teeth.
Here is a great how-to on brushing your teeth with braces:
- Before you brush, rinse with water to help loosen any food lodged around or in between your braces
- Brush at the gumline at a 45-degree angle
- Place the toothbrush on top of the brackets, angling down to brush on top of each bracket
- Reposition to slowly brush the bottom of the bracket and the wire, angling the toothbrush up
- Be sure to brush every tooth at the gumline and above and below the brackets to help remove plaque and food debris
- You’ll also want to replace your toothbrush more frequently as it will get worn out faster from your braces
Here are some tips for flossing with braces:
- Using a floss threader will make it easier to get the dental floss in behind the arch wire of your braces
- Try using orthodontic flossers that are designed for braces
- You can try using a water flosser (water flossers use a stream of pulsating water to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth)
- Don’t get discouraged! Expect the process to take longer than it did before you had braces – but you will get faster the more you floss.
Dental checkups are also very important during your orthodontic treatment. You should continue to see your dentist twice a year for teeth cleanings to ensure your teeth stay healthy throughout treatment!
For a free consult, reach our office at 306-653-3955 or book an appointment below.
Stephenson Orthodontics
301 The Tower at Midtown
201 1st Ave South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 1J5
