The metal braces that your orthodontist, Dr. Nidal Obeid, installed onto your teeth are designed to realign your teeth for a more functional mouth and appealing smile. To do this, your orthodontist will need to apply progressive tension to the periodontal ligaments that are anchoring your teeth into each socket. Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial. The complications that can result from cavities can significantly increase the duration of the realignment process.
Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces starts by brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste. You should then floss each night to remove residual food particles and plaque from the spaces between your teeth. Be sure to floss beneath the wires, along the gumline and behind your last molar.
The braces hardware can sometimes create a few hard-to-reach areas. If this is the case, you might want to try using small interdental brushes. If wires or other hardware are making it hard to floss down into the gumline, you could try using a special floss threader loaded with waxed dental floss.
You should try to avoid eating sticky foods and chewing gum. This can easily bend wires, loosen brackets, or pull a spacer out. Your braces can also be damaged and bent by crunching on hard and crunchy foods. This also extends to bad habits like chewing on hard objects, like pencils and pens.
If you have questions about how to maintain good oral hygiene with braces in Chicago, Illinois, you can always call 773-561-5106 to talk to a member of the staff at Family Dental of Lincoln.
