Some Basic Tools to Help Clean and Maintain Your New Braces

Your new set of braces installed by West Cobb Orthodontics is a serious investment in realigning your teeth for a more appealing smile and a healthy mouth. Cleaning your teeth and the braces hardware is especially important for preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

There are a few basic tools West Cobb Orthodontics recommends to help you better clean around some of the hard to reach places between your teeth and in the hardware of your braces.

A floss threader is a simple, loop shaped tool that can help work floss between teeth in places where a wire might be in the way. Most people find nylon floss with a waxy coating works best as it slips easier into place.

Interdental brushes have small angled brush heads. They can be used to brush between wires and brackets as well as removing food particles from the contours where your teeth meet the gums. They are especially handy for getting small food particles out bands and spacers.

Oral irrigators create a small stream of water that can be used to loosen and wash away food particles from hard to reach places. Just remember that they are not an effective substitute for of floss and its ability to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and along the gum line

If you have questions about tools and techniques to help clean around your braces, you should call West Cobb Orthodontics at (678) 401-4321 to schedule an appointment.