As an adult with braces, you undoubtedly have a lot of questions regarding oral hygiene. If you did not help a child through the braces stage, you might not know how to care for your teeth with your braces. One orthodontist in Bristol RI, Jaffe Orthodontics, provides you with great and excellent hygiene advice.

Brush as You Normally Would

Braces might wear out the head of your toothbrush a little faster, but you can still brush as you normally would. Take extra care to brush in a circular motion around the brackets to remove food particles. Then focus on the backs and chewing surfaces of your teeth.

Flossing Is Harder, but It’s Still Necessary

Flossing between teeth when you have braces is harder, but it has to be done to keep your gums and your mouth healthy. Weak gums cause teeth to shift, and not even the best orthodontics can stop the shifting completely. If your gums are healthy and strong, they support the work that the braces are trying to accomplish.

There are three methods for flossing you can try. Using a waterpik to get in, around, and through your teeth’s spaces is ideal. It’s not uncomfortable and the water jets make it really easy.

The second method is with a floss threader and dental floss string. The threader looks like a flat plastic toothpick with a loop on the opposite end. You have to put the pick end between two teeth, loop some floss through the loop end, pull the pick end through the space to get the floss through, and then floss taking care not to bend or pull on the orthodontic wire.

The third method is to use a dental pick and pick in between the teeth and near the gums. A gentle pick is best so that you don’t injure your gums. You also have to avoid hooking and pulling anything, so take your time if you choose this method.

Special Orthodontic Mouthwash

If oral hygiene is a concern for your adult braces in Barrington, RI, your orthodontist may prescribe a special mouth rinse. The rinse helps kill bacteria that can cause problems with the braces. It also helps whiten spots on your teeth where brackets were adhered once your braces are removed. You can choose to use an orthodontic-safe mouthwash too if your orthodontist from Bristol RI allows it.

Ready for adult braces in Barrington, RI? Come see Jaffe Orthodontics in one of our Rhode Island offices to get started!

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