Going through orthodontic treatment is a significant time in your life because you are taking steps to have a beautiful, straight smile. While it is essential that you keep your orthodontic appointments, wear your rubber bands, and take care of anything hardware that you are given, you must also remember to take special care of your teeth. The teeth are much more difficult to clean while wearing braces. Maneuvering around all of the brackets and wires is challenging at best, but it is vital that you take the time to clean your teeth correctly.
Plaque, bacteria, and food particles are easily trapped in braces. If these particles are not removed, they can wreak havoc on the mouth in a short span of time. Even those orthodontic patients who are using invisible aligners to straighten their teeth must take extra precautions to care for their smiles. You do not want to put your aligners in against dirty teeth. Wearing aligners against dirty teeth will become a harboring ground for bacteria, and it can set you up for damage to your teeth.
One of the biggest suggestions a dentist will give to a dental patient who is undergoing orthodontic treatment is to invest in an electric toothbrush. Using an electric toothbrush provides many benefits and will help you get your teeth much cleaner than using a manual toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes use incredibly fast vibrations to break up the plaque that builds up around brackets, wire, and the gum line. Removing this plaque will help keep your teeth healthy. Another benefit of using an electric toothbrush is that most electric toothbrushes come with a “sensitive” setting. This setting allows you to gently brush your teeth thoroughly after orthodontic adjustments that often leave the teeth sore for a few days.
Electric toothbrushes are considered to be the standard in dental hygiene because they loosen and remove plaque that you cannot remove with a manual toothbrush. If you would like more information about the benefits of an electric toothbrush or would like a recommendation for one, please contact Smile Structure today. We want to encourage all of our patients to take care of their teeth in the best way possible.
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