Follow Good Oral Hygiene Practices In Greeley For The Best Orthodontic Results

Good oral hygiene is always important, especially when you have braces. The brackets and wires can make brushing and flossing more difficult. If food and bacteria get lodged in the hardware, you’re at a greater risk for dental decay, discoloration, and gum disease.

Dr. Richter and the staff of Richter Orthodontics will educate you on the best ways to keep your smile clean and healthy during your orthodontic treatment and for years to come. We want you to enjoy your new smile for as long as possible!

Try These Oral Hygiene Tips For Keeping Braces Clean

Brushing and flossing daily may seem like a challenge, but you should maintain your daily routine to avoid dental problems. Brush twice a day, holding your toothbrush straight and using circular motions to get rid of food debris and plaque. When flossing, we recommend using a floss threader to pull floss under your archwire.

To make oral hygiene easier, we suggest using:

• Proxabrush Interdental Toothbrush – This brush makes it easier to clean the tight spaces under and around your brackets and wires. Be gentle to avoid damaging your wires.
• Peroxyl – This antiseptic mouth rinse reduces gum inflammation and other soft tissue inflammation and can prevent infection. It also helps your mouth heal more quickly. In addition to soothing any irritation caused by braces, Peroxyl heals canker sores, cheek bites, and similar minor injuries. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl after you brush your teeth. You can use it up to four times a day.
• Phos-Flur – This sodium fluoride gel kills bacteria and replaces minerals in tooth enamel, which helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces. We recommend using it after brushing your teeth for the final time in the evening. Using your toothbrush, apply a bit of Phos-Flur to your teeth for one minute, then spit it out. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes afterward so the active ingredient stays on your teeth long enough to strengthen enamel.

Keep Your Retainers Clean Too

Congratulations! Your time in braces is over. Don’t waste all that time (and money) by not wearing your retainers. They maintain your results after your braces have been removed or your aligners are completed. To reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, you’ll need to keep them clean.

Here are a few important things to remember to ensure your retention stage goes smoothly:

• Since retainers are fragile and expensive to replace, you don’t want to lose them! We will give you a special case to keep them in when you are not wearing them.
• Clean your retainers daily as a part of your regular oral hygiene. Gently brush them with a mild toothpaste, or use a denture cleaner with warm water.
• Food particles and plaque can build up on your appliance. We recommend soaking your retainer daily. Dissolve a denture-cleaning tablet like Polident or Efferdent in a glass of tap water at room temperature, and soak your retainer once a day. You will prevent plaque and bacteria accumulation, plus your retainer will taste better too.
• Wear your retainers every night.

The retention phase typically lasts at least 24 months. Your final orthodontic results will depend on how well and how often you wear your retainers.

If you have any questions regarding oral hygiene in Greeley or anything else, call us at 970-500-5928.