Dental hygiene with braces

How to Care for Your Teeth While Wearing Braces

/0 Comments/in , /by

Taking meticulous care of your teeth can be tricky enough. But with the addition of braces, it becomes especially challenging. Braces, while gently repositioning your teeth and improving your smile, have tons of hard-to-reach areas where food and debris can become stuck. For this reason, it’s necessary to take special care of your teeth if you have braces. This will help prevent your perfectly straight, new smile from being marred by stains or cavities. Your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, can give you tips for caring for your teeth while wearing braces.

1. Brush After Every Meal

Did you know snacks count as meals? At least, they do to your orthodontist. This means every time you eat something, you must brush afterward, even if you only had a healthy snack. This will prevent bits of food from lodging in difficult areas where you can’t see or feel it. And no food left behind means less chance of cavities.

2. Use Mouthwash Regularly

An antiseptic mouthwash is best because it helps kill germs that breed bacteria. By rinsing with mouthwash several times a day, you can swish away any food particles your brush may have missed. You can also kill germs that lead to gum disease.

3. Don’t Forget to Floss

Even with braces, you should still floss at least once per day. It may be a bit trickier to maneuver. However, that extra effort will be worth it in the long run. And you can buy dental floss applicators that have been specially designed for use with braces.

4. Keep Regular Appointments with Your Orthodontist

It’s super important to see your orthodontist regularly if you wear braces. In order to do their job, most braces must be readjusted regularly. And if you wear traditional metal braces, only your orthodontist can perform this procedure. You’ll want to keep appointments with your regular dentist during this time, as well.

The friendly professionals at Cool Water Orthodontics can help you care for your teeth while you wear braces in Franklin, TN. Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dental clinicians.

portrait-woman-with-braces-demonstrating-interdental-brushing

Interdental Toothbrushes and Your Braces: What to Know  

/0 Comments/in /by

When you have braces in Franklin, TN, there’s a lot to learn about. You have to know how to care for your appliance as well as how to care for your teeth, which can ultimately be a lot to handle. The good news is that there are some solutions out there that can help you do both in one fell swoop. We’ll look at whether interdental toothbrushes are a good bet to protect your pearly whites. 

What Is an Interdental Toothbrush?

Interdental toothbrushes are specially designed to go where a regular toothbrush can’t. They are technically brushes, but they’re small and made to go between the teeth and the brackets of your braces. (They look a little like if you put a bottle brush in a shrinking machine.) These devices are great for anyone, but orthodontic patients may find them especially helpful because they’re able to move easily around the wires.

Tips for Using an Interdental Brush (IDB)

You should talk to an orthodontist in Franklin, TN first if you want to know which size will be best for your mouth. There are a variety of options on the market today, so it helps to get one that is correlated for your braces and teeth.

Here are a few tips for using an IDB with your braces:

  • Use it once a day after brushing your teeth.
  • Use the brush on the wires. When passing it, move the brush up and down to scrape off any food or debris.
  • Use the brush between your teeth.
  • Rinse after use.

IDBs can look a little intimidating at first, but they’re actually pretty easy to use. They have a high patient compliance rate, and they’re a safe device for you and your teeth.

Orthodontists in Franklin, TN

If you want to learn more about how to care for your teeth when you have braces (or if you’re interested in learning more about the types of braces available), Cool Water Orthodontics can give you the scoop. While the bracketed braces are great for moving your teeth around, there may be less intensive ways to get the same results. Contact us today to learn more about your options and how they can ultimately improve your smile.