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Top Tips for Maintaining Oral Hygiene with Braces

Home » Top Tips for Maintaining Oral Hygiene with Braces

  • Farina Orthodontic Specialists
  • August 12, 2024

Having braces is a significant step towards achieving a beautiful, healthy smile. However, maintaining excellent oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is crucial for ensuring the best results. At Farina Orthodontics, we are dedicated to helping you keep your teeth and gums healthy while you’re on your journey to a perfect smile. Here are our top tips for maintaining oral hygiene with braces.

Daily Cleaning Routines for Braces

Keeping your braces clean requires a bit more effort than regular dental care, but it’s essential to prevent plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease.

Brushing

  • Brush After Every Meal: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean around the brackets and wires. Aim to brush for at least two minutes, covering all surfaces of your teeth.
  • Use an Interdental Brush: These small brushes can help clean between the wires and brackets, reaching areas your regular toothbrush might miss.

Flossing

  • Floss Daily: Using orthodontic floss threaders or special orthodontic floss can make it easier to clean between your teeth and under the wires.
  • Water Flossers: These devices use a stream of water to remove food particles and plaque, providing an effective alternative to traditional flossing.

Rinsing

Use an antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash to rinse your mouth, reducing bacteria and strengthening your enamel.

Recommended Oral Hygiene Products

  • Orthodontic Toothbrushes: Look for toothbrushes specifically designed for braces, with V-shaped bristles to clean around brackets and wires more effectively.
  • Floss Threaders: These handy tools make it easier to thread floss behind your braces, ensuring you can clean between your teeth thoroughly.
  • Interdental Brushes: These small brushes can reach areas that your regular toothbrush cannot, making them ideal for cleaning around brackets and wires.
  • Fluoride Mouthwash: Strengthen your teeth and protect against cavities with a fluoride rinse, which also helps to reduce plaque and bacteria.

How to Handle Common Issues

Food Stuck in Braces

It’s common for food to get stuck in your braces. Use an interdental brush or a floss threader to gently remove any trapped food particles. Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash to ensure all debris is cleared away.

Discomfort

It’s normal to experience some discomfort, especially after adjustments. Use orthodontic wax to cover any brackets or wires causing irritation. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help manage discomfort.

Importance of Regular Dental Check-Ups

Regular visits to your orthodontist and dentist are crucial during your treatment. These check-ups allow your orthodontist to monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments, while your dentist will ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.

  • Orthodontic Check-Ups: Schedule appointments every 4-8 weeks for adjustments and to ensure your treatment is progressing as planned.
  • Dental Cleanings: Visit your dentist every six months for professional cleanings and exams to catch any potential issues early.

Diet Recommendations to Protect Braces

Certain foods can damage your braces or make maintaining oral hygiene more difficult. Here are some dietary tips to protect your braces:

  • Foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candies, chewing gum, and caramel can damage your braces and should be avoided.
  • Instead of biting into whole fruits or vegetables, cut them into smaller, more manageable pieces.
  • Opt for soft foods like yogurt, pasta, steamed vegetables, and smoothies, which are gentler on your braces.

At Farina Orthodontics, we are dedicated to providing personalized care tailored to your unique needs. Our experienced orthodontists use advanced technology to deliver precise and effective treatments, ensuring your journey to a perfect smile is as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Schedule a consultation or check-up with us today to ensure your oral hygiene is on track while you achieve your dream smile.

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What Our Patients Are Saying

jessica P.
Dr Farina did my braces as well as my sons and every appointment has been amazing! Highly recommend!
Jonathan B.
I’ve been going here for my whole life. Great place with great people. Dr Farina is a kind and caring guy. Amazing experience
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, Jonathan - it has been our pleasure!
Delores K.
I am so very Happy with my Invisalign results!! Dr Farina and his team have been absolutely amazing!! They have been there for me every step of the way. Dr Farina and his team are at the top of their game and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking a better smile😃
Response from the owner:We've loved having you as part of the Farina family, Delores, and are so pleased that you love your new smile! Thank you for the fantastic feedback.
Penny H.
Love-love this place! From the front office to the exam room and the final finish with Dr.Davis was a blessing! Dr. Davis and the staff were amazing at all times with my daughter. She rocked her treatment with the Invisalign and finished today. We are so happy and pleased with the outcome! Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for this glowing review, Penny! We appreciate your trust in our team and are so pleased that your daughter loves her new smile!
G D.
We had a great experience with Dr. Franco throughout my son’s orthodontic treatment. Caring and amazing staff, his treatment plan went as explained and his teeth turned out beautifully aligned.
Response from the owner:We couldn't be happier that you love your son's new smile! We will pass the feedback on to Dr. Franco and our team.
Eloá R.
My treatment was amazing and i couldn’t have chosen a better place. They are extreme understanding and seem to truly care about your treatment. Dr Davis was amazing
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback, Eloa!
Reggie D.
Dr Farina’s and his staff are the most competent, capable and caring team assembled. The facility is beautiful and state of the art. Dr Farina has served me and my entire family over a 25 year period. I highly recommend Dr Farina’s!
Response from the owner:Reggie, your feedback is priceless! Thank you for trusting our team with your family's smiles through the years.
Angelica Melecio P.
Farina Orthodontics was excellent throughout my Invisalign and jaw surgery process. They were patient and did excellent work and I couldn’t recommend them more.
Response from the owner:We appreciate the great review, Angelica, and we are honored that you chose us to partner with you on your smile journey. Thank you for trusting us!
Nina F.
I 100% recommend this place. It took me a year and 5 months to see the result of my Invisalign treatment, with the best results ever, my smile looks gorgeous and aligned. Franco and his staff worked with me very closely, listening to all my needs, with great motivation to never give up, (which probably everyone wants), be consistent to get the gold is the key. I love it! Thank you for your excellent and professional work
Response from the owner:We're so glad you've had a fantastic experience with us, Nina! Congratulations on your new smile!
Farah F.
I’ve had a fantastic experience with Dr. Davis and the entire team at Farina Orthodontic Specialists. Everyone is friendly, professional, and truly dedicated to patient care. From my initial consultation to each follow-up visit, the process has been smooth, clearly explained, and personalized to fit my needs. The office is clean, modern, and welcoming, and appointments always run on time. I highly recommend Dr. Davis and the team to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care! -Farahbod (Farah)
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback, and we'll be sure Dr. Davis and our team knows how pleased you were throughout your treatment. Thank you for trusting us with your smile!
Marlene L.
Today was my last appointment wearing braces! Dr. Franco & his staff have been amazing! During my 22 months with braces I’ve never had any problems with them. I’m in love with my new smile, thank youu so much!
Response from the owner:We are thrilled that you've had a WOW experience with us, Marlene! Congratulations on your beautiful new smile.
Jennifer C.
We love Farina Orthodontics! We had Invisalign’s for my first daughter and regular braces for my second, both turned out Amazing!! Dr.Davis and Sabrina are the best!
Response from the owner:We are so pleased that you've had a great experience with both of your girls' treatment, Jennifer! Dr. Davis and Sabrina are wonderful and we will always work to create a treatment plan that works best for each patient.
Tim M.
Dr Farina and staff are amazing to work with!! Patient service and care is top notch. Highly recommend! Our girls now have beautiful smiles thanks to them:)
Response from the owner:We are so happy you and the girls love their smiles, Tim! Thank you for the fantastic feedback.
Jayda G.
It has been a journey, and it took longer then expected. However, we continued to trust the process and are super happy with the results. Farina Orthodontics and their staff have been wonderful at every visit and throughout the process. Highly recommend!!
Response from the owner:We love seeing your new smile, Jayda! Thank you for trusting us with your treatment - congratulations!
Joanna L.
Pedro, Dr. Farina and the whole staff is amazing. Not only did they take their time to make sure my smile came out exactly how I wanted, but they educated me along the way. I am super happy with how everything turned out. I would highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback so much, Joanne! Thank you for allowing us to partner with you on your smile journey.

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