At Lindsey Orthodontics, we believe everyone deserves a smile they feel proud of, and we're happy to help our patients achieve one by offering comprehensive, high-quality orthodontic care. Maintaining the health of your teeth during orthodontic treatment is just as important as the treatment itself and unfortunately, you're more susceptible to cavities and decay while wearing braces. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you maintain healthy teeth and prevent cavities while wearing braces.
How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy with Braces
Straightening your teeth with braces? You're on the road to a beautiful, healthy new smile and that's exciting! But remember, you'll need to take great care of your teeth in order to get there. Follow these helpful tips to keep your teeth cavity-free during orthodontic treatment:
- Brush After Eating Anything: Cavities occur when food sits on the teeth for a prolonged period of time, so the key to preventing them is minimizing the amount of time you have food debris in your mouth. To that end, you should brush your teeth after eating anything, and especially after every meal. This will prevent the build-up of food and acids that cause cavities.
- Carry a Care Kit: One great way to make it easier to keep your teeth healthy is to create an on-the-go oral hygiene kit. Include a travel-size toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and any other accessories you use to care for your braces like elastics or dental wax and take it with you wherever you go.
- Use an Interdental Brush: Having a care kit is ideal, but sometimes we simply can't take it with us. In those cases, it's handy to have an interdental toothbrush, also called a proxabrush. This is a small, conical bush, shaped much like a pipe-cleaner, that's perfect for dislodging stuck bits of food from braces. It can be very helpful for cleaning up your braces when you don't have access to a real toothbrush.
Contact Your Locust Grove, GA Orthodontist
These tips will help you maintain the health of your teeth and prevent cavities, ensuring you achieve the healthy smile you deserve. Want to learn more about how to care for your teeth during treatment? Just reach out to us at our contact page with any questions you may have. We can't wait to hear from you, and we're excited to help you achieve your dream smile!