Will my child be able to take care of braces? Children Dental Center Indianapolis IN frequently hear this question from parents whose children or teenagers need braces. Childrens Dentist Indianapolis IN want to comfort parents by reminding them that maintaining healthy teeth is already a significant responsibility; adding braces only serves to increase the burden. Maintaining braces isn’t all that different from routinely brushing your teeth. A little accountability is also a good thing! See the information below to learn everything there is to know about caring for children’s braces.
Dental care while wearing braces
Children who have braces must wash their teeth with additional care and may need to modify their brushing technique and frequency. A youngster with braces must wash their teeth right after every meal. Even brushing four times a day is an excellent strategy to prevent plaque and food particles from accumulating in the braces and teeth. Additionally, brushing your teeth for a few minutes after each cleaning is advised. Children with braces should change their toothbrushes more frequently, especially when the bristles begin to fray or lose their shape.
With braces, wash your teeth as follows:
- Place the toothbrush on the side of the teeth while holding it parallel to the floor.
- Apply gentle circular motions to the toothbrush head as you move it from tooth to tooth, following the natural contour of your gums and teeth.
- Gently and slowly brush each tooth for a few seconds to ensure that all food particles are removed from the surface of each tooth and along the gum line, between braces, and between each tooth.
- Don’t forget to brush your teeth’s surfaces, interiors, backs of your mouth, and backs of your molars. Brush the top teeth downward and the lower teeth upward. Before rinsing, be sure to brush your tongue and mouth roof.
- Angle the brush head against the brackets for effective cleaning, and don’t forget to brush completely under the wires.
Cleaning teeth while wearing braces
Even though it might be annoying, flossing should be done every night after cleaning your teeth, especially if you have braces. Braces are notorious for trapping food in difficult-to-see and-reach spots, even when it appears that all food particles have been swept away. To correctly floss around wires, a person wearing braces must use “threader floss,” a special type of floss. The strong end of this floss makes it possible to floss in between brackets. To obtain the same dental care, reusable plastic floss threaders can be used in addition to traditional floss.
To properly floss while wearing braces, place a piece of floss (approximately 18 inches long) over the gap between the two teeth and slide it under the wire. Hold both ends of the floss after inserting it partially.
- Gently move the floss a few times in between the teeth. You’ll hear a faint squeaking sound when the tooth is thoroughly clean.
- When flossing under the gum line, remember to use a gentle up-and-down motion and bend the floss into the shape of a “C.”
- Use caution and avoid putting undue pressure on the archwire when flossing around it.
- Carefully remove the floss, thread it over the subsequent wire, and repeat the procedure.
When a youngster first begins flossing, the gums could bleed. For approximately a week after flossing, it’s usual for gums to bleed a bit, but if it continues, the child’s next orthodontic appointment is the time to address it. Flossing may take up to 15-20 minutes in the beginning, but with practice, the pace gets faster.
Brush frequently!
Plan to wash your teeth for at least two minutes each morning and evening. When brushing isn’t a possibility, a water rinse will assist. Gold star students brush their braces after every meal or snack.
Don’t eat anything crunchy or stick
These will likely require the greatest sacrifice from your child, but they should be avoided if they have braces since they might cause them to loosen or break. Avoid eating sticky or chewy foods such as candies, Skittles, caramels, and taffy when wearing braces. Popcorn and chips are also on the list of foods to avoid because little bits can become caught in braces and between teeth. If you cut some hard foods into little pieces rather than biting into them whole, you may still enjoy them. Examples include pizza crust, pears, apples, and more.
Regularly replace toothbrushes
For healthy, clean teeth, a new toothbrush should be purchased every three to four months. Braces cause children and teens to use their toothbrushes more often. This is mostly due to the braces’ damage to the bristles. In addition to the 3- to the 4-month guideline, it is time for a new toothbrush if you see the bristles becoming worn or frayed.
Floss
Make floss your buddy if you ever experience an issue with any meal that sticks. It is advised to continue flossing once daily to keep your gums healthy and your braces exceptionally clean. We’ll demonstrate how to accomplish it and provide you with threaders so you can work around the wires. Water picks are another option that you could have. They utilize pressured spurts of water to clean away trash, and your toddler might find them entertaining to use.
Skip the soda and sports drinks
The advice is the same now as when your child didn’t wear braces. We advise you to avoid pop and sports drinks because of the sugar and acid content. Although we can appreciate the desire and sweet taste, if you do occasionally enjoy a tasty sweet drink, make sure to clean your teeth or, at the very least, rinse them with water.
Stop chewing your food
No more chewing on ice, pens, pencils, or other hard objects. It’s difficult on the teeth and braces (both physically and figuratively!). The good news is that breaking these behaviors while wearing braces generally eliminates the tendencies permanently.
Mouthwash, toothpaste, and toothbrushes
A toothbrush with soft bristles works best for cleaning teeth when wearing braces. However, using a manual toothbrush does raise the possibility of leaving food residue and plaque behind. Power toothbrush use is strongly advised by Pediatric Dentistry Indianapolis IN.
No particular toothpaste is required for cleaning teeth while wearing braces; however, fluoride toothpaste is recommended. Choosing a toothpaste with thorough protection aids in maintaining optimum dental health. Additionally, it is advised that children clean the area surrounding their brackets with mouthwash twice a day for about a minute each time. After brushing and flossing, food particles may still be lodged in the minuscule crevices between teeth. Mouthwash helps to clean these areas.
To arrange a consultation with one of Kids Dentist Indianapolis IN, please get in touch with Pediatric Dentist Indianapolis IN..
