Why Keeping Your Braces Clean Is A Priority

Written By Paisley Hansen / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Keeping teeth clean and healthy can be a challenging self-care task before even having braces, but it becomes even more imperative once you start your orthodontic journey. You are investing in your teeth and smile so it is extremely important that you take care of your teeth as best you can while wearing braces.

You might think that there's not much difference you need to do to your teeth once your braces are on, however you actually have to work a bit harder to maintain your mouth's cleanliness. The following reasons will help you understand why it is so important to keep your braces clean.

Braces Keep Food Trapped

Our teeth tend to keep food and beverage particles trapped as is. Tiny spaces between our teeth and gums can harbor germs that can wreak havoc on our mouth. Once you throw in braces there are even more spaces for food to become trapped.

That's why it is so important to brush at least twice a day with safe natural toothpaste. Keeping up with your brushing schedule is just one critical step in keeping your teeth clean.

Sometimes a simple brushing isn't enough to dislodge any food particles. Softer foods such as starchy bread can be difficult to keep out of your braces. Although you should be avoiding troublesome foods like gum, candy, and popcorn, the reality is that sometimes mistakes happen.

That's when you need to have tools handy to keep your braces free and clear of food particles. Working around the wires can be tricky, but your orthodontist can supply you with special brushes and picks that are designed to keep your wires and brackets clean.

Stains Can Outlive Your Braces

One key reason that you need to keep up with best oral hygiene practices while wearing braces is so that your teeth look perfect when you have your braces removed. If you don't stay on top of keeping them clean you could have unnecessary plaque and staining build up around where your brackets were. 

You've spent so much time and energy getting your teeth nice and straight, so you don't want to miss out on a beautiful smile by forgetting to brush your teeth regularly. There are plenty of instances where patients neglected to stay on top of brushing and flossing and had unsightly marks and stains on their teeth after their braces were removed.

Do yourself a favor and brush often and finish off with using a plaque-fighting mouthwash each morning and evening.

Your Gums Are More Prone to Irritation

You might not realize it, but your gums are going through quite a bit during the process of straightening your teeth. All that moving around can make your gums more sensitive and more susceptible to irritation in general.

Then when you add in that brushing and flossing is harder to do well, they can become even further irritated. Swollen and puffy gums are not something you want to deal with while wearing your braces.

The best way to keep your gums in their best condition is to floss regularly. It can be a pain since it is difficult to floss around braces but taking the time to do it properly will be worth the effort. Luckily flossing devices are made specifically to make it easier for people with braces.

There are traditional floss threaders that have a more pointed end to make it easier to get them around wires. There are also interesting plastic flossers that are designed to work just like traditional floss picks. One side is narrow and more pointed so that it can fit underneath the wire and reach up into the gum.

Conclusion

Keeping your mouth and teeth clean while wearing braces doesn't have to be overly difficult. If you keep the importance of cleaning your teeth in mind, you can easily put forth the extra effort to ensure your teeth look perfect after your braces are removed.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, fitness, and growing young. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym. She loves hearing from readers so feel free to contact her through Facebook.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels