Tip 1 Brushing

While proper oral health is important for a healthy smile it is even more necessary to ensure a healthy mouth while wearing braces. Why is this? Because brackets and wires can trap food particles and harbor bacteria that lead to tooth decay and gum disease. We advise brushing your teeth every time you eat, including meals and snacks, instead of just twice a day. You can use a manual toothbrush or an electric/battery powered toothbrush, whichever works best for you. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush, and carefully clean each tooth around the brackets and gumline. Start with the gumline, then brush up and down around each bracket. Rinse thoroughly to make sure all oral debris is removed.

Tip 2 Flossing

Once your pearly whites have been properly cleaned with brushing, be sure to floss–at the very least once each day. Clean the areas between the teeth as well as the tooth surfaces under the wires. Find a flossing method that works best for you, and use it! You can use waxed dental floss, a threaded floss, an oral irrigator, an interdental brush or an orthodontic floss which is specifically designed to clean around brackets and wires.

If you are snacking at work, or dining out for lunch and forgot a toothbrush, you can remove food particles and debris after eating by rinsing well with water or mouthwash. Of course, follow up with a thorough tooth brushing as soon as you are able.

A beautiful smile can be yours if you follow good oral hygiene habits while wearing braces. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jaime Rivera in El Paso, Texas, please give us a call at 915-592-5853 today. Our Rivera Orthodontics team looks forward to helping you!

The post Are You Cleaning Your Smile Properly While Wearing Braces? first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Aligning crooked or crowded teeth doesn’t only result in an attractive smile, correcting a “bad bite,” also results in a healthier mouth. In honor of October’s National Orthodontic Health Month, we are sharing four tips to help protect your braces and your smile while enjoying the upcoming holidays.

#1- To protect braces, with their brackets, orthodontic bands, and arch wires, please avoid candy or snacks which are hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy such as caramel or bubblegum. Never chew ice, and watch out for popcorn, nuts, candies with nuts inside, and peanut candies in the hard-shell.

#2- If you are indulging in extra sugary treats due to the holiday, beat cavities by stepping up your brushing and flossing game. Brush carefully around all of your brackets and wires, focusing on places where your teeth meet your gums and where your braces attach to your teeth.

#3- To protect your braces, stick with soft chocolates, peppermint patties, peanut butter cups and other treats that melt in your mouth and can easily be washed away.

#4- For our patients wearing braces who also engage in sports, wearing mouth guards will protect your lips and your cheeks from cuts or damaged braces should you accidentally get hit in the face or fall down.

At Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas, we offer a variety of braces for our patients of all ages seeking an aligned smile. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please call 915-592-5853 today. Dr. Jaime Rivera along with the rest of our dedicated team, are excited to help you enjoy the holiday celebrations while maintaining your healthy smile!

The post Don’t Let the Holidays Dampen Your Healthy Smile Care first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Brushing and Flossing While Wearing Braces
Braces and other orthodontic appliances can attract plaque and food, which can stain the teeth if it is not removed. Our orthodontist may recommend brushing your teeth after every meal or snack, to carefully remove any food or plaque that is stuck in your braces. Brush using a soft toothbrush. To clean each tooth, brush down from the top and up from the bottom. Next, use a proxabrush, which is also called a Christmas tree brush, to clean between your braces. Between each set of brackets, insert the brush from the top to the bottom and then from the bottom to the top, using several strokes in each direction. There is also a special procedure for flossing with braces. Insert the short end of the floss between the main arch wire and the part of the tooth closest to the gums. Use a gentle sawing motion to work the floss between the teeth. Be very careful around the arch wire.

Avoid These Foods While Wearing Braces
For those wearing braces, most foods can still be eaten as long as they are cut into small pieces that can be easily chewed. However, some foods can damage braces and should be avoided, including:

– Hard foods that are hard to bite (i.e. apples and bagels)
– Chewy foods (i.e. taffy and caramel)
– Corn on the cob
– Popcorn, nuts, carrots, and hard pretzels

Do not chew ice or bubble gum with braces.

Feel free to contact Rivera Orthodontics today to learn more and to schedule a consultation.

The post How to Brush and Floss During Orthodontic Treatment first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.