Page 12 - Orthosmile Orthodontics

When To Brush

*** Brush immediately after each meal or snack. Food left
on the braces provides a very nice meal for the bacteria
in your mouth. The bacteria make acid which will cause
decay, white scarring of the enamel, and swollen gums.
White Mark
Decay *** If you eat lunch at school or work, take an interdental
brush with you! Use the interdental brush to clean
between each bracket. When this interdental brush gets
old, please replace it!

*** If you can't do a thorough brushing during the day,
catch up at night time before going to bed, and make
If you do not effectively remove the plaque which sure you brush at least 2 to 5 minutes.
accumulates around your braces, it can leave permanent
stains or marks on your teeth called decalci cation. These It is each patient's responsibility to remove the trapped
white marks, lines and spots from decalci cation may food from around the braces after each meal.The
remain on your teeth for life. So make sure that your alternative is permanent white decalci ed scars on the
spend enough time cleaning your braces and also reduce teeth and swollen and infected gums which may require
your intake of sugar! gum surgery during or following orthodontic treatment.

Brushing Technique

Step 1 Step 4
Use a soft toothbrush and a Use the tip of your brush for
uoride toothpaste. Using a the inner surface of your front
disclosing tablet prior to teeth. Look in the mirror and
brushing can help to reveal the pull your lip away from the
location of plaque. Place your teeth to check. Braces should
toothbrush at a 45 degrees look clean and shiny, especially
angle to your gumline. around the gumline.

Step 2 Step 5
Brush gently in a circular Insert the interdental brush
motion. Spend extra time underneath the archwire
around the gum line as this is between the teeth. Use a soft
where the white scarring starts. back-and-forth motion, lean
and rub against the sides of
each bracket several times.

Step 3 Step 6
Brush the outer, inner and Brush your tongue gently from
chewing surfaces of each far back of your mouth and pull
tooth. Brush above, over and forward to the front about ten
under the surfaces of each times. Tongue plaque is a
bracket. common cause of bad breath.

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