OUR GOAL IS FOR all of our orthodontic patients to make it to Braces Off Day without any worries of their results being marred by tooth decay and stains. However, a lot of that depends on the daily habits of our patients when they’re away from our practice. Follow theses tips to ensure the best possible result at the end of treatment:
1. Brush after every meal.
Twice a day doesn’t cut it quite so well when it means waiting from lunch until bedtime with food stuck between brackets. It’s a good idea to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste along to lunch to deal with stuck food. Just make sure to find a place to store the toothbrush where it can dry out between uses!
2. Don’t skip flossing.
We know it’s trickier with braces, but persevere! Use floss threaders, floss picks, or water flossers if regular floss is too frustrating to work with. Daily flossing is actually more important than brushing, and it’s essential for preventing post-braces stains.
3. Whitening products and braces don’t mix.
Wait until the braces come off so that the entire surface of each tooth can get the same amount of whitening treatment. Trying to do it with braces on can leave uneven patches where the brackets were!
