Remember to brush after EVERY TIME YOU EAT as well as in the morning and before bed. Here's a visual for you to follow as well.
1. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. Hard and medium toothbrushes can damage gums and should be avoided.
2. Always use a mirror! It is impossible to see what it is you are doing without looking into a mirror. Dr. Angolkar always reminds patients to pay attention and focus on just brushing.
3. While using only your wet tooth brush, begin removing debris from around the brackets and under the wire using a picking motion rather than scrubbing. Scrubbing does a decent job on the surface of the braces, but that action will not remove plaque and food that are caught under the braces.
4.Time yourself and spend at least two FULL minutes brushing your teeth. You should spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. You might think that you do this already, but most patients who time themselves find that they are brushing an average of only 30 seconds for their entire mouth!
5. The best toothpaste is the one that tastes best to the patient and encourages them to brush for a full two minutes. When it comes to good oral hygiene it is the TIME SPENT and the technique used and not the brand of toothpaste.
Please let our office know if you have any questions about proper oral hygiene while wearing braces. Also, Don't forget to floss daily!
Tukwila
206-246-9656
Issaquah
425-392-0980
Seattle 206-523-6327
