765-348-4111 Normally, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at once a day. However, when a person has braces, they should brush and floss at least three times a day, especially after meals. You should keep in mind that when you brush after meals, it is a good idea to wait for approximately 30 minutes to give the saliva in your mouth time to wash away the acids from your food.
Before you brush, rinse your mouth to remove any loose food particles. Start by brushing your gumline, and follow that by brushing above your brackets in a downward motion, followed by brushing the bottoms, up toward your brackets. After that, clean the wires. People without braces need to spend about two minutes brushing their teeth. However, when you have braces, you should take your time brushing, focusing on one or two teeth at a time.
Due to the nature of your braces, there is a good chance that food particles will become stuck in them while you eat. You can limit this by watching your diet, but you will still need to floss after meals. You may find that it is harder to floss while wearing braces. Talk to your dentist about using a water flosser to clean between your teeth. While water flossers can work, a soft pick or a floss threader may do a better job of reaching between your teeth and braces.
If you think that braces may be in your future, our dentist, Dr. Raymond Maddox will be happy to talk with you. If you would like to make an appointment at Maddox Family Dental Center in Hartford City, Indiana, call 765-348-4111. We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you improve your smile!