Are your children wearing braces? Then, you know how important it is to maintain good oral hygiene. Braces create more places for food particles and plaque buildup, which can lead to cavities and gum disease if not properly cared for. However, don’t worry! There are many ways your kids can keep their teeth healthy with braces. In this blog post, we’ll go over some helpful tips that will make maintaining oral hygiene a breeze!
Why Good Oral Hygiene Is Important For Children With Braces
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for everyone, but it’s especially important for children with braces. Braces create an environment where food particles and bacteria can easily accumulate, leading to dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
Children with braces must be diligent in their daily brushing and flossing routine. Failure to remove food debris from around the brackets and wires can cause tooth decay or even discoloration of teeth after the braces are removed.
Additionally, poor oral hygiene can lengthen the amount of time a child has to wear their braces which means they have to visit the dentist more frequently. Therefore, teaching your child how to properly clean his/her teeth during orthodontic treatment is critical if you want them to achieve optimal results.
Instilling good oral habits early on in life will benefit your child not only throughout orthodontic treatment but also into adulthood. By keeping up with regular dental checkups and maintaining excellent oral hygiene practices at home every day while wearing braces – your child will enjoy healthy teeth that last a lifetime!
Tips For Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for children with braces because food residues can easily get stuck in the brackets and wires, leading to plaque buildup and tooth decay. Here are some tips on how your child can achieve excellent oral care while wearing braces.
Firstly, brushing teeth twice a day is essential – once in the morning and once before bed using fluoride toothpaste. Use an interdental brush or floss threader to clean between each bracket and wire as it helps get rid of any remaining food particles that may cause cavities if left behind.
Secondly, make sure your child avoids sugary foods such as candies, soda, and juice as they tend to stick to teeth, making them hard to remove even after brushing. Instead encourage them to eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables which not only provide nutritional value but also help keep their teeth clean!
Thirdly, rinsing the mouth with water after meals helps eliminate any lingering debris in the mouth following eating.
Lastly don’t forget regular visits with an orthodontist every six weeks for adjustments!
What To Avoid When Brushing And Flossing
When it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene with braces, brushing and flossing are essential. However, there are certain things that children should avoid doing while brushing and flossing.
Firstly, they should avoid using too much pressure on their teeth while brushing. This can damage the brackets and wires of their braces, making them less effective in straightening their teeth. Children should also avoid using toothbrushes with hard bristles as this can cause gum irritation.
Another thing to avoid is rushing through the brushing process. Children need to take their time when cleaning around the brackets and wires of their braces to ensure that all food particles are removed from these areas.
When it comes to flossing, children must be gentle when threading the floss between their teeth and under the wires of their braces. They should also use waxed dental floss which is less likely to get stuck or shred between brackets compared to regular dental floss.
Children must avoid eating anything immediately after brushing or flossing as it can disturb the cleaning process by introducing more food particles into the mouth again.
By avoiding these habits during oral care routines with braces, children will have healthier gums and cleaner teeth throughout orthodontic treatment for optimal results.
Foods To Eat And Avoid With Braces
One of the biggest challenges for children with braces is knowing what foods to eat and avoid. Certain foods can damage or loosen brackets, causing discomfort and prolonging treatment time. Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy diet while wearing braces.
Soft, cooked vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and spinach are great options as they provide essential vitamins without risking damage to the hardware in your mouth. Fruits such as bananas, berries, and seedless grapes also make for good snacks that won’t harm your braces.
It’s important to avoid sticky or chewy foods like caramel candies or chewing gum. These kinds of treats can get stuck in between brackets and wires making it difficult to clean properly. Hard candy should also be avoided because it could cause damage to the teeth if bitten into too hard.
When eating meat dishes such as chicken or beef fajitas, try cutting them into small pieces so that it’s easier to chew without harming your braces. Soft grains like rice and noodles are also preferable over crispy bread or crackers which may crumble under pressure.
Remember that proper oral hygiene is key when wearing braces! Rinse your mouth out after every meal with water ensuring no food particles remain trapped in-between bracket spaces.
Bottom Line
Maintaining good oral hygiene while wearing braces is crucial for children to achieve a beautiful and healthy smile. By following the tips mentioned in this article, children can keep their teeth healthy and clean during their orthodontic treatment.
Remember to brush and floss regularly, be gentle when brushing around brackets and wires, use mouthwash for extra protection against plaque buildup, avoid hard or sticky foods that may damage braces, and visit the dentist regularly for checkups.
Encourage your child to take responsibility for their oral health by teaching them these habits early on. With proper care of both braces and teeth, they will have a better chance of achieving optimal results from their orthodontic treatment.
So let’s help our little ones maintain great oral hygiene with braces so they can enjoy a confident smile that lasts a lifetime!
