Family Orthodontist in Leawood: A Guide to Cleaning your Braces 101 by Starting Point Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics —A family orthodontist in Leawood knows you are conscious of the appearance of your teeth if you have chosen to get metal braces in Leawood. You might feel a little self-conscious about the way you look while they’re on, but you know the day will come when you’ll take them off and have the smile of your dreams. You must take good care of the metal in your mouth in the interim, keep it clean, and take all necessary precautions to guarantee that you won’t have any cavities when the big reveal arrives.
Maintaining metal braces in Leawood can be difficult. You can’t floss quite the same way you used to while they’re on; it’s far more difficult than just brushing. On the other hand, you can maintain your braces’ functionality and cleanliness with the correct knowledge. Even with braces on, you can still smile broadly.
Discover all there is to know about taking care of braces by reading on. You’ll be happy with the outcome and how you look during the process if you put in a little effort.
Selecting the Proper Toothbrush
You need the appropriate tools in order to achieve any goal. The first step to receiving great dental care, particularly when it comes to braces care specifically, is selecting an appropriate toothbrush.
While a regular toothbrush can do the job, investing in an electric toothbrush will help you take better care of your teeth if you have braces. An electric toothbrush works far better at getting into all the crevices and corners of your mouth. It can reach areas that a manual one might not be able to, which is crucial if you wear braces.
It is important to select a brush that is large enough to clean every crevice in your mouth and the backs of your teeth. At first, a larger head might seem attractive, but if your mouth is smaller, you might find it difficult to get to all the important places.
A family orthodontist in Leawood explains another crucial factor to consider is the type of bristles; you can select medium, hard, or soft bristles based on your requirements and preferences. Make sure the bristles on your metal braces in Leawood are small enough to get around the wires and brackets and get rid of food particles that are hard to get rid of where they hide the best.
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Remember to change your brush frequently once you’ve found one you like. Every three months, the American Dental Association advises replacing all toothbrushes with new ones. You should think about putting a reminder on your phone so you’ll know when your next appointment is due because it’s easy to forget that the time has arrived.
The Best Way to Brush Your Braces
A family orthodontist in Leawood explains that even though brushing your teeth with ceramic braces in Leawood and without them is not that different, it is still a good idea to review for everyone. Since you have probably been brushing your teeth in the same manner since you were a young child, you may discover that you have been neglecting some steps for this entire time.
Brush the front of your teeth first. The outside of your teeth is what the world sees, so if you’re not careful, food and plaque can adhere more readily when you wear braces. Take your time, brush every tooth several times, and check your work in the mirror to make sure you have cleaned every last one before continuing.
Brush the backs of your teeth after that. This is a step that many people omit. Your posterior teeth are equally as important as your canines and neglecting them will lead to cavities or worse in the near future. Pay equal attention to the back of your teeth as you did the front.
Flossing: Contrary to popular belief, wearing metal braces in Leawood does not make it impossible to floss. Despite the need for a slightly different approach, flossing is still crucial. When wearing clear braces in Leawood, you should aim to floss at least once every day.
When flossing with braces, use regular floss but take extra time to get the floss in between the teeth and around the wires. Some people discover that pre-threaded floss picks are what they prefer. A sharp point on the other end of many picks will help you reach those difficult-to-reach places.
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You may want to invest in a water flosser if you plan to wear braces for an extended period of time. These fantastic little devices can help loosen food particles and even plaque build-up because they shoot strong water streams in tiny pulses. Regular use of one of these tools will make cleaning your braces and teeth much simpler overall.
Use Mouthwash and Salt Water to Gargle
Using mouthwash can help keep your mouth and your braces clean because your mouth isn’t used to metal. If you didn’t regularly use mouthwash prior to receiving braces, you should definitely start doing so now. Moreover, mouthwash helps maintain your breath tasting, feeling, and smelling fresh while assisting in the removal of food particles and plaque.
When your braces were first put on, your orthodontist most likely advised you to gargle with salt water; however, this is a good habit to maintain over time. Salt water prevents bacteria from growing in the mouth and helps lessen soreness and inflammation in it.
Observe Braces Properly
Naturally, maintaining the cleanliness of your braces is not the only thing you can do to help them stay in place and function properly. Always heed the advice of your family orthodontist in Leawood after all, they are professionals. Chewing ice or bubble gum is not recommended, and foods like caramel, hard foods like apples, nuts, and bagels, and sticky foods like corn on the cob should also be avoided. You will be able to resume all of these activities once your metal braces in Leawood come off, so don’t worry.
Cheers to Straightening!
The time it takes to have your braces taken off may seem endless, but it will pass quickly. The time will come when you’ll have the smile of your dreams. Until then, take good care of your braces and adhere to the instructions of your family orthodontist in Leawood. This will be sure to help speed up the process. Remember that maintaining your braces is crucial to your success in the end. You won’t regret it!
Welcome to Starting Point Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, where we’re more than your average tooth fairies! We’re the architects of stunning smiles that light up Kansas City brighter than a firefly’s glow. If you’re on a quest for a children’s orthodontist in Leawood, kids orthodontist in Leawood, or a teen orthodontist in Leawood, consider your Indiana Jones-style hunt over! We believe orthodontic care should be as unique as your kiddo’s laugh. That’s why we offer a range of treatments from clear Braces in Leawood to ceramic braces and metal Braces. Got a case of crowded chompers or crooked canines? We’re the crooked teeth and crowded teeth orthodontists in Leawood you’ve been searching for.
And guess what? Our Leawood services are as budget friendly as they are top-notch. We accept most dental insurance and offer interest-free payment options. Special discounts? We’ve got those too for our brave military families and those with multiple braces champions. From the cutting-edge Clarity by 3M in Leawood to the ever-popular Invisalign, our team is ready to add some sparkle to your smile. Let’s make Kansas City shine, one smile at a time!
Request an appointment here or call our clinic at 913-491-5044 and let us add some sparkle to your smile!
