708.403.2626At Sonneveld Orthodontics, it’s our goal to help you attain the healthiest smile possible. We accomplish this not only through our effective orthodontic services, such as braces and Invisalign, but also through our dedication to patient care and education. We want to make sure that your treatment is as comfortable and convenient as possible, which is why we’ll be here for you every step of the way. If you happen to be wearing braces, we’d like to give you some tips on how to best keep an optimal level of oral hygiene.
Brushing
Tips
For starters, we recommend using a soft-bristle toothbrush, though an electric toothbrush can work just as well. Just make sure that the electric toothbrush isn’t set to a power level above moderate and that its vibrations don’t cause the back of the brush to bump against your braces. You should brush using fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, but preferably four times (after each meal and before bed). Make sure to brush all of your tooth surfaces – the outside, the inside, and the chewing services. Remember to clean the areas between the wires and your teeth and also between the brackets and your gums; these are the most common areas where food particles can become trapped.
Floss
Fundamentals
It’s probably not surprising to learn that you’re still recommended to floss daily even while you have braces. However, with the archwire of your braces running across the fronts of your teeth, you may be wondering how to best floss your teeth. It’s actually pretty simple when you get the help of a floss threader. Using a floss threader is similar to threading a needle – you just pull one end of the floss through the threader and then push the threader underneath the archwire. Then, grasp the floss on each end and slide it up and down the sides of both of your teeth. When your teeth are clean, you should hear a squeaky sound. After that’s done, you’ll want to do the same for each of the other areas between your teeth.
Full
Disclosure
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell how well you’re actually doing when you’re cleaning your teeth. You’re in luck though! There’s now a completely accurate way to tell – you can use special vegetable dyes known as ‘disclosing solutions’ or ‘disclosing tablets.’ They’ll dissolve in your mouth and the dyes will highlight plaque and food debris that you may have missed. This will show you the areas of your mouth where your oral hygiene needs a little brushing up on.