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Close-up of a woman brushing her braces

Tools to Thoroughly Clean Your Braces

October 3, 2022

You may know how crucial it is to brush and floss correctly while wearing braces, but how should you go about doing that? Below is a list of dental tools suggested by an expert on orthodontics in Sioux City. You can use some of these to clean your teeth thoroughly.

Person with braces holding cleaning products recommended by an expert in orthodontics in Sioux City

Dental Tools That’ll Make Your Oral Hygiene Easier

Bi-Level, Electric, or Soft Bristle Toothbrush  

This toothbrush has longer bristles at the edges and shorter bristles at the middle. You can also use a brush with soft bristles. Moreover, an electric toothbrush can do equally well when used correctly. However, make sure the electric toothbrush is powered at a modest level and watch out for vibrations. If you’re not careful, the vibrations could cause the back of your toothbrush to come in contact with the braces.  

Floss Threader  

Flossing is necessary to maintain the health and hygiene of your teeth and gums. But how can you get floss past your braces' archwire? With the aid of a floss threader, it's not as difficult. Using this dental tool is akin to threading a needle. After threading the dental device with one end of the floss, you push the threader and the free end of the floss under the archwire. Take hold of the floss at each end and move it under the gums and up and down the sides of both teeth until you hear a squeaky sound. Finally, remove it and use a fresh piece of floss for other areas.  

Fluoridated Toothpaste

It would be best if you brushed your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste for two minutes each time and twice every day. Do not forget to brush the teeth you normally use to chew and the front and rear teeth. Because food particles can quickly become caught in these areas, pay extra attention to cleaning those spaces between wires and teeth.  

Interdental Toothbrush

Cleaning your teeth around the brackets or the archwire might be tricky, even with excellent brushing and flossing. You can use a unique instrument called an interdental toothbrush or proxabrush. This dental cleaning tool has tiny bristles attached to a bit of wire, designed explicitly for reaching areas where your toothbrush and floss can't. An interdental toothbrush ensures nothing is hiding in those challenging-to-get locations.  

Water Flosser  

Most people use traditional dental floss to remove plaque and food remnants between teeth. As for the water flosser, it works the same way but uses a different thing because, instead of floss, it uses pressurized water.  

Water easily flows over wires and brackets. In addition to being more efficient than conventional floss at removing food particles and massaging the gum line. Moreover, one of the more unpleasant side effects of traditional flossing is bleeding gums.

Expert in orthodontics in Sioux City checking the braces of a patient

Consult an Expert in Orthodontics in Sioux City  

While you should clean your teeth at least two times a day, all that is required of you is to floss only once a day. With this practice, bacteria in every gap won't have a chance to harm your teeth.  

You shouldn't have any trouble maintaining the health of your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment as long as you practice correct dental hygiene and pay attention to these simple suggestions. Feel free to ask us any queries you may have. We're always willing to be of assistance.

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