Brushing and Flossing
The most important part of your treatment is keeping your teeth clean with thorough brushing and flossing. By doing this you will assist in keeping your treatment on schedule and ensuring yourself healthy teeth throughout treatment. After you get your braces on we will review with you the proper techniques of keeping your teeth clean using a tooth brush, dental floss and other cleaning instruments that you will receive with your new patient kit.
Irrigation Devices
We do highly recommend investing in an irrigation device (e.g. Water-Pik®) of some type to help clean the hard to reach areas of your mouth. This should not replace thorough brushing and flossing, but serve as an additional instrument in keeping your teeth and gums healthy and free of plaque.
Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. You will receive one of these in your new patient kit when we start your treatment. It will help you clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Be sure to use it gently to avoid damaging your wires or hurting your gums.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Peroxyl, an antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks while helping to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute and then spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after use because it is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking. Peroxyl can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites and other minor temporary injuries to the gums and cheeks. You will receive a sample in your new patient kit and additional Peroxyl can be purchased at most local drug and grocery stores.
Topical Fluoride
Prevident® and Phos-Flur® are prescription sodium fluoride gels that help prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids from certain foods and drinks. The use of these does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. Place a pea size amount on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after use because it is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking. These may be obtained from your local pharmacy with a prescription from our office.
Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your removable appliance just as they do on your teeth it important to rinse your appliance with water prior to storing in your protective case. To clean, brush with a soft bristle toothbrush and soak daily with a denture-cleaning tablet (e.g. Retainer Brite®, Polident®, or Efferdent®) in a glass of tap water at room temperature to help keep it clean. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.