Happy Dental Hygiene Month!
Tips on Proper Dental Care
Dental hygiene is essential for keeping your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy, especially when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. October is Dental Hygiene Month, and we want to remind all our patients about the importance of proper teeth care, whether they have braces or aligners.
Take a look below at some tips on caring for your teeth, gums, braces, and aligners. In addition, learn more about maintaining a happy, healthy smile, and get in touch with our team if you have any questions about your dental hygiene!
How to Care for Your Teeth & Braces
If you have braces, you should be flossing once a day and brushing your teeth after every meal. Remember to brush the outside, inside, and crowns of your teeth in a circular motion, paying particular attention to the brackets on your teeth. You should also brush your gums, tongue, and cheeks. When flossing, remember to use a “C” shape to get all the areas around your gums. Floss threaders can help you get around wires and brackets, and rinsing your mouth can help loosen food particles.
The kit we provided for you at the start of your treatment should help, but we always welcome the chance to discuss what tools work best for taking care of your teeth when you have braces. Feel free to reach out to our team with any additional questions you may have!
How to Care for Your Aligners
Unlike braces, aligners can be taken off for eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth. Even though you remove your aligners for these activities, you need to care for your aligners to ensure they last and to protect the health of your teeth and gums. We recommend gently brushing your aligners using toothpaste and cool water every time you remove them. And, of course, you should be brushing and flossing your teeth as recommended above.
Adirondack Orthodontics and Your Dental Hygiene
At Adirondack Orthodontics, we want to help our patients achieve and preserve straight, healthy smiles for a lifetime. Keeping these dental care tips in mind during and after your treatment will help you reach the smile of your dreams! If you have any further questions about oral hygiene techniques, please call or text your nearest location, or request an appointment here.
