Over 4 million people wear braces every single year. Many of those braces wearers have traditional metal braces. However, others have ceramic braces, lingual braces and Invisalign treatment. Receiving orthodontic treatment is great for your smile and can reduce your risk for tooth decay. However, the teeth are also harder to clean during this time, which can actually lead to more problems if they aren’t taken care of properly. Learn how to take care of your teeth with braces so that you have a beautiful, healthy smile when those braces come off!

The Process of Getting Braces

Getting braces is an exciting time for teens and adults alike. It is the first step towards having a more beautiful smile. In the past, traditional metal braces were the only options available to patients. These are braces that consist of metal square brackets that are bonded to the center of each tooth with a metal wire that passes through them. However, lingual braces, ceramic braces and Invisalign are all popular choices available to patients today. Lingual braces are just like metal braces, except they are attached to the backs of the teeth. Ceramic braces are a close cousin to metal braces as well, except that they are made of ceramic material instead of metal.

When getting all of these braces options, an orthodontist will bond the brackets to your teeth and pass a metal archwire through those brackets that will shape your teeth. Your teeth will probably feel sore that first time you get braces on and every time you get your braces adjusted.

Cleaning Your Teeth

The American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day in order to avoid tooth decay and problems with gum disease. To keep your teeth clean and free of plaque, you want to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits the size of your mouth. Make sure to brush your teeth with ADA-approved toothpaste that will help you avoid tooth decay. Then, make sure to floss your teeth after you brush, making sure to scrape your teeth with the floss. You can floss before brushing or after brushing, but just make sure that flossing is definitely a part of your routine! You can brush your teeth every day and still have tooth decay problems because you aren’t clearing away plaque between the teeth.

What Will Be Different with Braces?

Brushing and flossing will be very different with braces, as you may have metal appliances glued to the center of each tooth. The majority of people have metal braces, lingual braces or ceramic braces, all of which have brackets and wires. Those brackets are like small traps for food particles. You can eat one small snack and have 30 brackets suddenly filled with food. If you don’t immediately start cleaning your teeth meticulously, you can get your braces off at the end of treatment and have teeth that are decayed. You can also get teeth that are demineralized, which leaves small craters in your tooth enamel. You don’t want these or other oral health problems, especially when you’ve spent 18-24 months straightening your pearly whites!

You will have to set aside more time to clean your braces morning, night and throughout the day. Take a travel kit with you to school, work, or anywhere else so that you can clean your braces on the go. When brushing, make sure you brush after every meal. Brush teeth with a regular soft brush, making sure to brush down from the top, then up from the bottom on each tooth that has a bracket. Many patients (especially younger ones) like to skip flossing because it takes longer to do. In reality, it only takes a tiny bit longer to floss your teeth if you use floss threaders. This is a type of floss designed to be threaded between the teeth, so you can pull it through and floss your teeth under the archwire. However, to make cleaning your teeth easier, invest in a proxabrush, which is a small braces brush that cleans your brackets. A waterpik is also helpful for blasting away stuck food. Once you get a routine down, cleaning your teeth with braces is a breeze!

Invisalign Makes It Easier

Did you know that there is an easier option when it comes to keeping your braces clean? At our office, we offer Invisalign treatment instead of metal braces or other orthodontic options. We believe Invisalign is an easier way to straighten your braces that actually works. Unlike braces, which are permanently attached to your teeth, Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners. They are comfortable and custom-made for your teeth. Plus, their transparent design means that no one will even know that you are straightening your teeth! These aligners are the easiest way to straighten your teeth because they are removable for cleaning your teeth, eating, drinking, playing sports and any other activity. You don’t have to worry about cleaning brackets and wires—you simply brush and floss your teeth like you have always done. There is no hassle and you get your teeth straight in about the same amount of time as metal braces.

Keep Your Teeth Healthy

The goal of having braces is to have a beautiful smile in the end. A major part of getting that beautiful smile is keeping your teeth clean and free of tooth decay. You have to properly brush and floss your teeth several times a day, plus add in habits such as seeing the dentist if you want your smile to stay healthy. Receiving orthodontic straightening can help you decrease your risk for tooth decay while also making your smile something that will wow a crowd. Whether you need help with keeping your teeth clean, or you want to straighten your teeth, you can find both by calling Mountain Aire Dentistry at (303) 731-7755!