Brushing with Dr. Boschken

If you thought brushing and flossing were important before you got braces…well, you were right. But, people undergoing orthodontic treatment need to be even more dedicated to good oral hygiene.

Braces trap food very easily, which contributes to plaque formation, and if plaque is not carefully removed from teeth and from around braces, patients run the risk of developing gum disease, dental decay and bad breath."

Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, debris and bits of food. The bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids. The acids can irritate your gums, erode the enamel on your teeth and contribute to bad breath (halitosis).

It's important to remove the plaque thoroughly and often. Then, when your braces come off, the surfaces of your teeth underneath the braces will be healthy and strong and look good. Here are some tips to help you.

Brushing

Always use a soft-bristle toothbrush. Soft bristles are better than medium or hard bristles at getting into those nooks and crannies around your appliances. They also don't irritate your gums.

Some companies make toothbrushes especially for people with braces. Known as bi-level brushes, these brushes have longer bristles on the edges and shorter ones in the middle. This type of brush allows you to clean the area above and below the brackets and the brackets as well.
The most important thing is to look for a brush that's soft and approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). After that, the size of the brush, the shape of the handle and other variations are up to you.
What about an electric toothbrush? It's not absolutely necessary, but if you have one, it's safe to use it on your braces. Just be careful not to hit the plastic back of the brush against the brackets on your braces because it can damage them. Also, it should be used on a moderate setting so as not to break or loosen braces. However, electric brushes can clean much more efficiently and effectively when used properly and often so, you may greatly benefit from using one especially during orthodontic treamtment.
Brush at least three times a day. It is best to brush after meals to make sure there's no food trapped in or around braces. If you are not able to brush after lunch, at least rinse your mouth with water very thoroughly.
Brush for at least two to three minutes each time you clean your mouth. It's best to use a watch or timer to make sure you are brushing long enough.
Brushing should be done slowly and carefully,because it's important to brush the braces and all the surfaces of the teeth, that is, the inside and outside surface and the chewing surfaces, too. Always pay special attention to the areas between your brackets and your gums.

Flossing

Floss at least once a day. It might seem like you can't possibly floss while you have braces, but you can and you should. Special flossing products can help you get into the space between the wires and your gum-line. These include floss threaders, platypus flossers and a special kind of floss known as superfloss. When your braces are first put on, our friendly staff here at Boschken Orthodontics will review flossing techniques. If you're not sure you're doing it right, ask your our staff during your next visit.

Toothpaste

Use a fluoride toothpaste. It doesn't really matter which brand — just make sure it has the ADA seal of approval.

Fluoride

Dr. Boschken recommends that you use an over-the-counter fluoride rinse. These rinses usually provide enough fluoride to help protect and strengthen teeth during orthodontic treatment. However, if you have a history of cavities or are otherwise at risk of decay, your general dentist may prescribe a rinse that contains more fluoride.

During your orthodontic treatment, see your family dentist for a complete examination every six months, or more frequently if directed by your dentist. Don't ignore your dentist just because you're visiting an orthodontist regularly. It is still important very to visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning. You should go at least twice a year, or as often as your dentist and orthodontist recommend.

Other Helpful Tools

Rubber-tipped and end-tuft or single-tuft brushes — These are special brushes that help you to get into those nooks and crannies, as well as between your teeth. The end-tuft or single-tuft brushes look something like pipe cleaners.

Oral irrigators — These instruments shoot small streams of water onto your teeth at high pressure to remove bits of food. They can be used as an aid in your oral hygiene practice, but not in place of brushing and flossing. Water-piks and Hydro-Floss machines also should be used at a moderate setting so they don't damage the braces.
Antibacterial rinses — These rinses are fine for adults, but their high alcohol content makes them off-limits for kids. There are alcohol-free rinses available for children to use, but some are designed only to freshen breath and not to kill bacteria. Before buying an antibacterial rinse for your child to use, you should consult with Dr. Boschken to determine which rinses he   recommends.
Disclosing solutions or tablets — Your dentist may have used these during an office visit to see where you tend to miss spots after brushing. Disclosing tablets and solutions use vegetable dye to highlight plaque or debris in your mouth. Once you see the spots, you can quickly remove them with your toothbrush, you can find them in a drugstore brushing section or pick some up here @ Boschken Orthodontics to use them at home.
If you have questions about how to use any oral hygiene product, even your toothbrush, give us a call (408) 225-6660 or talk with our helpful staff during your next visit.

If you have a removable orthodontic appliance, it needs to be cleaned regularly, too (after all, it spends a lot of time in your mouth.)

Brush the appliance daily with your soft toothbrush and some toothpaste. This is especially important for the side that is in contact with the roof of your mouth or gums. Brush your retainer over a sink filled with a few inches of water just in case it slips out of your hand, so that it will not be damaged. You also can soak your appliance in cleaning solution such as Retainer Brite (available at our office for purchase $15 for a box of 36 tablets.) 
When brushing or soaking your appliance, never use very hot water. It can distort the plastic and make the appliance unusable. When your retainer is not in your mouth, keep it in the case that Dr. Boschken provided. Also, keep it away from your pets. Dogs and cats love the plastic and will chew it to bits if they get ahold of it.

Eating Right

While you're wearing braces, you need to think twice about eating foods that could increase your risk of cavities. You also should avoid anything that might damage your brackets or wires. Frequently breaking your braces will add to the overall treatment time.

Stay away from hard and sticky foods. Caramel, hard candy, gum - you get the idea. They can damage your braces and get stuck in the wires and brackets. While the food's stuck there, it provides lots of sugar for cavity-causing bacteria to munch on. Also, do not chew on ice cubes.
Cut down on all sugary foods. You can still have a limited amount of sweets and soda, but the more sugars you eat, the greater your risk of tooth decay. Always brush after eating sugary foods or candy.
It's not just what you eat, but also when you eat it. Frequent snacking on sugary foods is worse than eating those foods with a non-sugary meal. Don't eat sugary foods or candy before going to bed without brushing. The more chances you give the bacteria to turn sugars into acids, the higher your risk of decay.