The perfect summer weather brings with it a breath of fresh air. It’s that time of the year when you get to kick back and enjoy fun times with your loved ones. Of course, delicious treats are a big part of summer. If you recently got fitted for braces or Invisalign by Dr. Dask at Beach Braces, Toronto, then your journey towards achieving a perfect smile has just started! However, that is only the first step. It’s important to make a few adjustments to your oral hygiene routine if you have braces this season!

Why It’s Important to Brush Your Teeth with Braces

Braces provide new places for food particles and bacteria to hide. The braces can trap food remains, and without proper brushing and flossing, these can accumulate and start causing dental problems such as tooth decay. Bacteria can also accumulate and cause periodontal disease. Even before summer is over, you may find yourself coming to our office with dental problems that were not there before!

How To Brush Teeth With Braces

Brushing after braces requires a little patience, at least until it becomes routine. To keep food particles at bay, brush after every meal for 2-3 minutes. If this is not possible, make sure that you at least rinse out your mouth after a meal! We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day using this simple 5-step process:

1. Swish with water to dislodge any food particles
2. Brush above your top braces and below the bottom braces to clean the space between the braces and the gum line 
3. Brush around the braces and under the wires to remove any food particles that are still stuck
4. Angle your brush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line and gently make some of the bristles come close to the gum line. Move your brush in a semicircular motion to carefully sweep away the plaque tooth-by-tooth. Do not move the toothbrush back and forth in a straight line!
5. Don’t forget to brush the top of the teeth and the inside of the teeth like you usually did before the braces went on.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends the use of a fluoride toothpaste to decrease the risk of developing cavities. Since braces can wear out normal toothbrushes quickly,replace your toothbrush when the bristles start turning outwards.

How To Floss With Braces

Braces can make flossing tedious. However, it’s still crucial that you floss properly and with the right tools. A floss threader works well with braces and when paired with water irrigators (like Waterpik), it becomes easier to flush out any food particles that are stuck between the teeth. 

Are There Any Foods That I Should Avoid?

Wearing braces means temporarily letting go of a few treats that you enjoyed before, but your beautiful smile will last a lifetime! The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends avoiding hard/crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods as they can damage your braces. Of course, there will still be lots of fun treats such as ice cream, yogurt, and grilled cheese to make your summer and treatment worthwhile.

Contact Us Today!

Dr. Dask and the team at Beach Braces are dedicated to working with you so you can achieve the beautiful smile you want.  Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment! We’d be happy to talk to you about our orthodontic treatment options, including Invisalign, self-ligating braces and more!