Proper Dental Care with Braces

While these days, adult braces are fairly commonplace, the majority of patients receiving braces are still fairly young.  The average age range for having braces applied is between 10 and 14, when the corrective benefits can be most effective.

As we all know, pre-teens and teens are still in a learning curve when it comes to personal hygiene habits, including dental care.   So it’s important for your child to understand that particularly while they have braces, special care is required to protect their teeth so that when the braces come off, their teeth are not only straight but clean, healthy and free of decay.

At Enhance Dental Centre, we offer our orthodontics patients all the information and techniques they’ll need to care for and protect their teeth while they have braces.

Special Care

In simple terms, traditional braces involve placing a series of brackets on each tooth, then stringing wires through the brackets.  This creates a lot of small spaces where food can get caught, leading to bacteria, plaque, staining etc.  So while your child may have good brushing and flossing habits, there are a few additional things they can do to ensure proper care and some special tools that can help.

Foods to Avoid

Anyone with braces can probably fire off a quick list of foods that should be off limits while wearing braces!  Ice, hard candy and other hard foods like nuts, crunchy or stringy vegetables – especially celery – should be avoided.  Not only can these foods damage the braces, if a piece gets stuck within the braces, it can be very difficult to remove.

Gooey foods like chewy candies and chewing gum should be avoided as these can become entangled in the braces.

Any foods that require hard biting or tearing using the front teeth should be avoided.  Examples include corn on the cob and apples.  If you must eat these types of foods, it is best remove the cobs, cores etc. and cut the food into small bite sized pieces that can be chewed using the back teeth.

In general, foods that contain high amounts of sugar and starch should be avoided while wearing braces, as they have a higher risk of causing decay.  Avoiding soda and other sugary drinks is always a good idea whether you have braces or not.  These types of drinks are almost guaranteed to cause tooth decay even in the most vigilant!

Brushing and Flossing

It goes without saying that brushing and flossing should be a regular part of everyone’s routine.  Patients with braces must take extra measures to not only clean the teeth, but to keep the hardware (brackets, wires etc.) clean and free from debris, otherwise permanent damage and staining of the teeth may occur.  That said, your dentist may provide you with special tools to help take the extra steps needed to prevent decay.  As well, it’s wise to preform your dental hygiene routine after every meal.  If you are not in a position to be able to brush and floss after each meal, at the very least, rinsing vigorously with water can help to dislodge bits of food that have become stuck.

On the Go

Since you’ll need to take these special cleaning steps after each meal, it’s a good idea to keep a kit with you at all times, perhaps in your purse or backpack, so that your dental hygiene tools are available even when you are not at home.  Include a soft bristled tooth brush, floss and floss handle, a travel sized toothpaste and a travel sized mouthwash.  This way you’ll be able to keep your braces clean even while you’re away from home.  This is key to ensuring the overall health of your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment.

How to Brush and Floss Properly

Along with your regular toothbrush and toothpaste, special tools are available to help make cleaning in and around your braces easier.   If your braces include any removable appliances (i.e. retainers) or other devices such as elastic bands, they should be removed before brushing and flossing.  Clean them separately as directed by your dentist.

Flossing

The first step to cleaning your teeth and braces should be flossing.  It may take a few tries to get the hang of flossing around your braces, but as long as you are gentle and thorough, you’ll develop a system that works for you.  If you find it especially difficult to use regular floss, your dentist can recommend different types of flossing devices that may help to make the job easier.  Either way, be sure to clean the gum line as well as in between teeth.  

Brushing

Next, perform a gentle thorough cleaning with a regular soft toothbrush.  Spend as much time as you normally would on each tooth surface, and don’t forget to brush your gums!

Interdental Christmas Tree Brush

Your dentist may prescribe a special brush called a “Christmas Tree Brush” (technically called an interdental toothbrush) – named because of its shape.  After flossing and brushing with your regular toothbrush, the Christmas Tree brush can be used to get into tiny spaces between the brackets and wires.  Use the pointed tip to gently work the brush in between brackets and wires to catch any remaining food particles left behind after flossing and regular brushing.

Rinsing

Your dentist may prescribe a special rinse that contains a higher level of fluoride to provide an added level of protection.  Use the rinse as directed.

Note: Some patients choose to use an electric toothbrush and water flosser to make the job of cleaning teeth and braces a bit easier.  This is a personal choice – as long as you are following your dentist’s instructions, your teeth will remain healthy during the period you have braces.

Summary

At Enhance Dental Centre, it’s important for our Vancouver dentists to educate our patients in the best ways to keep their teeth healthy and clean while wearing braces.  If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to give us a call or visit our dental clinic in Kitsilano!

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