Even though your braces are made of artificial materials that are not vulnerable to the bacteria in your mouth, keeping up on oral hygiene will still be an important part of the alignment process. Inadequate oral hygiene can damage braces, promote tooth decay and increase the total amount of time it takes to effectively align your teeth.
To aid in this endeavor, your orthodontist at Jacobsen & Maleeh Orthodontics recommends a few basic oral hygiene tips to help you clean in and around the hard-to-reach places of your mouth.
Wires can sometimes make it challenging to floss between your teeth and along the gumline. A floss threader is a simple, loop-shaped tool that can insert a strand of waxed dental floss into these places.
Interdental brushes have small-angled heads that help clean food particles and plaque from hard-to-reach places. This makes them very helpful when cleaning around bands and spacers.
An oral irrigator or dental water jet creates a small, concentrated stream of water that can loosen and wash away food particles. Just keep in mind that this is not a viable alternative to flossing.
If you have questions or concerns about the best way to clean your teeth and braces in Victorville, California, you can always call Jacobsen & Maleeh Orthodontics at 760-951-7752 to ask your orthodontist, Dr. Michael Jacobsen, a question.