Braces are wonderful tools for aligning your teeth and giving you your very best smile. However, they can make it a bit more challenging to take good care of your teeth. Luckily, there are ways to simplify your dental hygiene routine so that you can have both straight and dazzling teeth.

Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride is a powerful cavity fighter. It works by bonding with the calcium and phosphate in your tooth enamel to create a new, even stronger mineral called fluorapatite. This colorless mineral is what makes human teeth hard. The more fluoride your teeth are exposed to, the harder your teeth will become. The last thing you want is to have your braces removed, only to discover the dreaded splotches indicative of poor dental hygiene. Those splotches are caused by the demineralization of your enamel. Fluoride fights and even reverses demineralization.

Try Floss Alternatives

Flossing is critical for removing the cavity-inducing tartar that builds up between your teeth. Unfortunately, with braces, traditional flossing methods are pretty much impossible. Thankfully, you have other options when it comes to cleaning between your teeth.

Floss threaders can be tricky at first, but with a little practice you will quickly become an expert. Threaders work great for getting the floss between your teeth above your braces. Simply thread the floss into the eye of the threader, poke the straight end of the threader into the space between your teeth, and the floss will be right where you need it.

A water flosser is another excellent floss alternative. Instead of using floss to manually clean between your teeth, water flossers send a stream of water to remove tartar and prevent cavities. Anyone can use a water flosser, but it is especially helpful for people with braces.

Avoid Certain Foods

Broken brackets are a leading reason for having to make your way to the orthodontist in between your regularly scheduled visits. It is inevitable to break a bracket or two in the course of your treatment, but breaking brackets can set you back. It is important to avoid eating very hard or sticky foods while wearing braces, or at least cut these foods into bite-sized pieces.

Having braces can be challenging. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with everything you have to do to ensure that they are maintained. Following this advice will help make the process easier so that you can have a good experience and a perfect smile by the end! 

Think you might need braces? Click here to learn more about orthodontic treatment options at Farley Orthodontics, a reputable practice in the TX area!