Once your orthodontist has placed your new braces, it will be up to you to take care of them and more importantly, your teeth. Your braces will give you a terrific smile that will last a lifetime, and you need to make sure that as your braces do their work, your teeth will remain healthy. Not to mention you want them to look good on the day of your big reveal!
Even though you might feel like you see more metal than teeth right now, you still need to visit your dentist every six months for your routine cleaning and exam. Your teeth can still develop plaque and are still vulnerable to cavities. And you will need to change your brushing and flossing habits.
Usually it is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time, and floss once a day. With your braces, you should brush and floss 30 minutes after every meal. You need to take your time brushing, by focusing on one to two teeth at a time. Rinse your mouth before you brush to remove any loose food particles. Brush along your gumlines, and then brush from your gums down the top of your brackets, and then from the gumline up to the bottom of your brackets. Follow that by brushing the wire. You may find it difficult to use regular dental floss with your braces, and you should talk with your orthodontist about using a floss threader or a water flosser. You should rinse again when you are done.
If you are thinking about getting braces for yourself or another member of your family, our orthodontist, Dr. Randy Wright would be happy to see you. If you live in the Batavia, Illinois, area and would like to make an appointment at Wright Orthodontics, give our office a call at 630-208-1200.
