5 Helpful Tips for Taking Care of Braces in Pediatric Dentistry
When wearing braces, it is important to keep teeth clean and maintain healthy dental practices that are necessary, as braces can trap food easily and be a hub for an overgrowth of plaque. When this happens, the chances of tooth decay go through the roof, making the process of wearing braces all the harder on your little one.
In this article, we will take a close look at five helpful tips to ensure that your child’s braces stay clean and in great shape so they can function properly and get them off sooner for a straight, beautiful white smile.
Great Ways for Children and Teens to Keep Teeth Healthy When Wearing Braces
1. Floss and Brush After Meals and Before Bed
We all know that brushing two times a day is a standard practice when caring for teeth properly. However, this is going to be especially important when your child is wearing braces. Food will get stuck in braces pretty quickly, which can lead to a buildup of acid, creating cavities. This is why most orthodontists will advise brushing your teeth up to 4 times a day: once in the morning after eating breakfast, after lunch or right after school, after dinner, and at bedtime. This extra brushing is going to help the mouth remain free of debris, help combat cavities, and prevent damage to the braces.
Brushing alone is not going to remove the food particles between your teeth, especially with rubber bands and brackets. When the alignment of teeth changes, cracks and crevices can harbor more debris than your child is used to, which is why we always suggest using helpful flossing tools! Dental picks, superfluous, floss threaders, and waterparks are great tools that will help provide more flossing solutions to children wearing braces. The tools are all designed to improve the ease of flossing for children in braces. We recommend checking out a few options to see which best fits your child’s needs.
2. Swish with Water After Finishing a Meal
After your child finishes a meal, swishing with water is a great method to remove bits of food that get caught in braces. The water will be able to get rid of a lot of the food that gets stuck, but debris that is harder to reach will need to be brushed or flossed away. Swishing warm salt water can also aid in relieving any irritation from braces, helping to reduce the possibility of infection while promoting a healthy mouth.
3. Keep Up with Replacing the Toothbrush Regularly
It is recommended to replace a toothbrush or the head of an electric toothbrush every 3-4 months for clean, healthy tooth care. Children and teens with braces will wear their toothbrushes out faster. This is going to be damage to the bristles caused by the braces. Keeping the 3-4 month rule in mind, if you notice bristles are getting worn or frayed, it is time for a new toothbrush.
4. Stay Away from Sticky and Hard Food
Hard and sticky food can damage your teeth without wearing braces. The damage is worse when wearing braces. Hard food will cause bands and wires in braces to snap easily. Sticky food can become a wedge between the braces and can be hard to remove. For children and teens wearing braces, these types of foods should be avoided to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
5. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Routine dental cleanings and check-ups are important for children and teens wearing braces to maintain. The orthodontist is going to help straighten the teeth, but the dentist is here to ensure that they stay healthy. Braces will make teeth more prone to tartar and plaque accumulation, so regular cleanings are more important now than ever. Therefore, we recommend frequent or 3-month cleanings.
Bottom Line
Maintaining your child or teen’s teeth when wearing braces is fundamental in ensuring that their teeth remain healthy during the duration of wearing the braces. From flossing and brushing after every meal and swishing with warm salt water to replacing their toothbrushes and staying away from harmful foods, there is a lot that goes into keeping up with the care of braces. However, your child or teeth will thank you in the long run when their teeth are healthy and straight.
Trust the professionals at Lolo Dentistry, the expert children’s dentist in the Western Montana area, to help you keep your child’s teeth healthy. There are three dental offices to serve you in Lolo, Frenchtown, and Superior for Mineral County, Montana, call us at 406-284-8669 for more information on procedures, dentistry, reviews, and more today!