If your child or teenager is having orthodontic treatment, it can be tricky to maintain great oral health. It’s crucial that your child maintains healthy teeth and gums throughout the orthodontic treatment, as this may severely affect the outcome. Teeth that are partially covered by braces, bands and wires are particularly difficult to clean, however they are even more at risk of cavities and decay, so its imperative that your child pays extra attention to these areas. Spending an extra minute or two while brushing (3-4 minutes instead of 2 minutes) is recommended for orthodontic patients.
Specially designed toothbrushes are also available with finer bristles and smaller heads to reach between all the wires, loops and bands. These are available from most chemists in the dental care section. If your child has a removable retainer or appliance, it’s important to clean that too. Using a soft toothbrush and water, brush the retainer as you would brush your teeth. If your retainer is clear, using toothpaste on it can dull it’s shine and clarity, so using water or soap and water is recommended. There is no need to soak or disinfect retainers and appliances, unless your child has been unwell or there is a large amount of food debris in the retainer.
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Thanks for sharing such great information! Braces are a common orthodontic dental device used to correct the size, shape, and position of teeth. Braces are usually made from metal or ceramic. The brackets that hold the wires in place can be made from plastic or metal. The wires that go inside the brackets to hold them in place can be made from stainless steel, nickel-titanium alloy, copper-nickel alloy, or cobalt-chromium alloy.
The braces themselves could cause a buildup of plaque and bacteria which could lead to tooth decay and gum disease. It is important for patients with braces to brush in line with the archwire so that it removes plaque from around the bracket. Additionally, they should brush away from the wire when brushing inside brackets so as not to increase wear on these areas.