How To Brush and Floss Teeth with Braces

Dr. Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics in Brownsburg, IN are orthodontics experts and can help explain to you why you should always maintain good oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth while wearing braces.

We’ve all been taught about the importance of brushing and flossing our teeth, typically in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to sleep. But the one thing that you should never forget to do is clean your teeth properly, especially if you wear braces. While wearing braces, whether you’re a teenager or an adult, maintaining good oral health care Chapman Orthodontics helps ensure a successful treatment outcome.

Brushing and Flossing When Wearing Braces

With braces, food often gets caught in the brackets and wires, and then lingers on your teeth, creating plaque and tartar. These conditions can also cause serious and unwanted complications during your orthodontic treatment, such as:

  • Swollen gums
  • Cavities
  • Permanent stains on your teeth
  • Yellowed teeth
  • Bad breath

While wearing braces, not only is it important to brush your teeth multiple times a day but to brush them in the correct way. To get the best brushing results, make sure you brush your teeth and braces from every angle.

While brushing your braces on and around your top teeth, make sure to brush them with the toothbrush angled downward.

When brushing your braces on and around your bottom teeth, make sure you brush them with the toothbrush angled upward.

This helps to ensure that each tooth and every part of the tooth–the front surfaces, the chewing surfaces, and the back surfaces of your teeth–get completely clean. These techniques will also improve your brushing skills and give you a better cleaning treatment each time you brush. 

Dr. Chapman stresses that cleaning your mouth, teeth, and braces effectively is an important part of your orthodontic treatment. If you don’t put the effort into your cleaning regimen while you are wearing braces, you may not get the outcome that you were hoping for: a clean, healthy, straight, white smile. 

Flossing 

Just brushing your teeth is not enough when you’re wearing braces. Flossing is a necessary (even if it’s a bit more awkward and difficult) and important step toward optimal oral health and the best orthodontic treatment outcome. 

For people who wear braces, the Name Orthodontics team recommends using a waxed floss. Some tools designed just for flossing are made with a stiff tip to reach food stuck under the wire of your braces.

To be certain you are flossing effectively, remember these tips: 

Thread the floss under the wire before passing the string between the teeth.

Rub the waxed floss up and down each surface of the tooth and don’t skip cleaning each and every gap.

Weave the floss through the individual gaps between the teeth (no blood should be seen. If you see blood, you may need to floss a little more gently). 

Be sure to massage the gums with your toothbrush during brushing. 

Finish things off with a good and thorough mouthwash rinse. 

Both brushing and flossing your teeth properly are crucial steps in your orthodontic treatment with braces. You’ve already spent a lot of money on your braces to straighten your teeth and improve your smile. So why not maintain your oral health to ensure you get a healthy, beautiful smile?

If you’ve been searching for an orthodontist in Brownsburg, IN that can help you achieve a beautiful, glowing smile, then look no further than Dr. Chapman! To make an appointment for a consultation at our office, contact Chapman Orthodontics at: 317-852-5566

What Is the Perfect Age to Begin Taking My Child to the Orthodontist?

 

As a child develops, one of the first things parents begin to feel concern about is their child’s oral health. Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics in Brownsburg, IN is often asked if a child may eventually need orthodontic attention, what the signs are to look for, and at what age should a child begin treatment. No two cases are the same. Dr. Chapman has the answers to a few of the most important questions that you may have.

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Questions to Ask Your Orthodontist During a Consultation near Danville

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ORTHODONTIST DURING YOUR CONSULTATION

An orthodontist can help you straighten your teeth and improve your overall dental health. Orthodontists like Dr. Peter Chapman near Danville, Indiana, are specialists who complete four years of dental school and then study the practice of orthodontics for an additional two to three years.

Here are some questions you should ask an orthodontist when you schedule an appointment for an initial consultation:

What are my treatment options?

Dr. Peter Chapman, a top orthodontist in the Danville area, works with patients to help them match orthodontics to their lifestyles. People now have a variety of treatment options, including traditional metal braces and clear braces. Invisalign retainers, which are virtually invisible, have become a popular choice for adults because they are removable and easy to clean.

How much pain can I expect?

Orthodontics work is relatively painless. Some patients do experience discomfort through the process, especially if braces rub against the inside of the mouth. Options like Invisalign, which doesn’t contain wire or brackets, may be more comfortable for some clients.

How many visits will it take?

Treatment plans for Invisalign and other braces are individualized. Orthodontics is a long-term commitment that can take anywhere from 12 months to 2 1/2 year of active treatment. During that period,  Dr. Chapman schedules regular visits for adjustments and check ups. An additional 1 to 2 years of retention follow-up might be required.

Will I have to change the way I brush my teeth?

People with metal and clear braces need to brush by tilting the toothbrush bristles at an angle to get up under the wires of the braces and reach the tooth surface. Improper brushing causes tooth decay and gum disease and also leads to decalcification, or white spots, on the enamel of teeth when the braces are removed.

How much will braces cost?

Talk with your orthodontist about the total cost of your care, whether you choose traditional braces or Invisalign, and inquire about any possible hidden fees or charges for replacement parts. Most dental insurance programs include orthodontic care. Dr. Chapman and his staff work closely with patients to help them understand their total out-of-pocket expenses and to find affordable budgeting options, including financing.

Will I have to limit physical activities or diet?

Active people will still be able to play sports, although Dr. Chapman suggests they wear a mouth guard for activities like football, soccer, basketball and wrestling. The consumption of hard, sticky and sugary foods should be kept to a minimum, and sugary drinks, like soda or punch, should be limited.

 

 

 

Yong Tau Foo Singapore