While braces are an excellent step toward optimal oral health, they come with various challenges; therefore, it's crucial to practice impeccable dental care during your treatment period. Taking care of your teeth while wearing braces doesn’t have to be difficult; simply update your dental hygiene routine to keep your pearly whites shining.

5 Top Tips to Care for Your Teeth While Wearing Braces

1. Invest in an Electric Toothbrush

Braces can make it difficult to reach tiny spaces between your teeth, resulting in plaque buildup or decay. Using an electric toothbrush will help boost your dental care routine by reaching and polishing those pesky nooks and crannies that a regular toothbrush can miss. Some electric toothbrushes also have smaller brush heads that fit between brackets.

2. Try Special Flossers

While flossing with braces may be difficult, it’s an important part of dental care. There are several flossers available to help ease the task for brace wearers, including threaders and pre-cut, extra-strength floss. Because floss removes the debris trapped between teeth, it’s essential to continue flossing even with braces.

3. Try Prescription Toothpaste

If you’re at risk for developing cavities during your orthodontic treatment, consider speaking with your dentist about prescription toothpaste. These products typically contain fluoride to help prevent plaque and decay from forming. Additionally, prescription-strength toothpaste can help stop teeth discoloration from occurring due to the brace brackets covering part of the tooth.

4. Choose the Right Foods

One of the easiest ways to practice good dental care while wearing braces is by eating the right foods. Hard, sticky, or chewy foods likely have a lot of sugar in them, which isn’t good for teeth, but they also cause wear and tear on braces. This added stress to braces could cause broken brackets or wires — or worse, tooth damage. Stick to healthy fruits, vegetables, and protein.

5. Keep Dental Cleaning Appointments

Your dentist will provide you with techniques to ensure your teeth remain healthy under and around brackets. During visits, they will also evaluate your smile, look for potential issues, and ensure your braces and surrounding teeth are damage-free.

Lisa Valderueda, DMD, is located in Waipahu, HI, and offers various important dental health services to the community. From teeth cleanings and exams to cosmetic and specialized dentistry, these professionals are well-versed and equipped to handle your dental care needs. To learn more about the services they offer, visit their website or speak with a staff member by calling (808) 676-5711.