A guide to caring for orthodontic teeth in a few simple steps

Educational Articles

All people who intend to use orthodontics to have a more beautiful smile, should be familiar with how to take care of orthodontic teeth. Because this issue will greatly affect the acceleration of their recovery process. But we will discuss how and how to take care in the rest of this article.

What does orthodontic tooth care include?

Many believe that orthodontic tooth care will begin right from the time the orthodontic wire and brackets are placed on their teeth. However, as an orthodontic specialist in Mashhad, Dr. Najmeh Dartahvildarnejad believes that the way of care before orthodontics, daily, periodical, after or during orthodontics should be done completely.

Care before orthodontics

Before you decide to do orthodontics, you should visit an orthodontic dentist to examine the condition of the teeth in terms of health, placement, tooth filling, tooth extraction, dental scaling before orthodontics and... In addition, you should also improve dental hygiene or use scaling if necessary. Before putting the brackets on your teeth, it is recommended to stop bad habits such as eating hard foods, stimulating the teeth and gums with the tongue, biting nails, etc., to speed up the treatment process.

Read more » When you go to the dentist to check the position of your teeth, one of the things that happens a lot is tooth extraction. But to know more about the reason for tooth extraction for orthodontics, click on the given link.

Daily care during orthodontics

After the treatment period begins, it is time for daily care. You should follow these things until the treatment is done correctly and completely. The correct use of orthodontic appliances such as movable plates, orthodontic wax, orthodontic braces, etc. are among the things that should be checked daily. In addition, cleaning the teeth using floss and a special toothbrush after every meal can remove all the remaining particles between the teeth and brackets. Be careful, avoid eating hard foods, sandwiches, etc. during the day.

Periodic care or during orthodontics

During the time that the orthodontic wires and brackets are in your mouth, in order for the teeth to be moved, you must go to his office to move the brackets according to the doctor's opinion. In addition, it may be necessary to change or replace defective or broken parts of the orthodontic wires so that the health of the gums and mouth is not threatened.

How to care for orthodontic teeth

During the time that the teeth are undergoing orthodontic treatment, you must follow a special diet. For example, avoid eating foods that require a lot of chewing. Postpone hard foods such as popcorn, sticky foods, and foods that require biting until after orthodontics. Consider the right toothbrush and toothpaste for brushing your teeth.

In addition to following the food plan, taking care of braces is also very important. In fact, the force that is continuously applied to the braces can break the connection between the braces and the teeth, which are only connected by glue. This will cause the duration of treatment to be longer. If you are considering orthodontics for a child, it is recommended that they carry a brace maintenance kit with them.

How to take care of the teeth after orthodontics?

But orthodontic treatment is not only limited to the presence of brackets inside the mouth. Because in the next step, in order to stabilize the position of the teeth in their new position, other devices are used that are related to post-orthodontic care.

Care tips for retainers

The best way to take care of orthodontics with retainers is to follow your dentist's instructions exactly. But some general advice can help you:

Keeping the retainer clean: Always keep the retainers clean. After each use, wash them with water and use detergents or disinfectant solutions
Regular use: Use retainers as directed by your dentist. Usually you use them during the night or for a few hours a day.
Storage in the right place: Keep the retainers in the right place to prevent them from being damaged or lost.
Avoid scratching or deforming: Avoid scratching or deforming the retainers. Avoid high temperatures or chemicals that may deform the retainers.
Refer to the dentist: If you have any problems or failures in the retainers, you should visit your dentist to fix the problem.

Necessary care to reduce orthodontic pain

The best care tips to reduce orthodontic pain are:

Use of orthodontic wax
Using a cold compress
regular mouth washing with salt water
following the diet as prescribed by the doctor
Using painkillers as prescribed by the doctor

Final word

How to take care of orthodontic teeth, we wrote for those people who intend to choose orthodontics in order to have a beautiful smile and correct the position of their teeth. Ignoring any of these things can prolong the duration of treatment.

Frequently asked questions about the care of orthodontic teeth

1) Why is orthodontic teeth care important?

Because brackets and wires are places where plaque and bacteria accumulate, and lack of care can cause decay and gum inflammation.

2) What are the simple steps for daily care of orthodontic teeth?

Brushing with a soft toothbrush after every meal
Using toothpaste containing fluoride
Clean around brackets and wires carefully
Using special orthodontic floss and fluoride mouthwash

3) What kind of toothbrush is suitable for orthodontics?

A soft or orthodontic toothbrush that can clean around the brackets and wires well.

4) Is it important to use dental floss?

Yes, orthodontic floss is necessary to clean between the teeth and under the wires.

5) What is the role of mouthwash in accelerating the healing process of teeth after orthodontics?

Fluoride mouthwash helps to keep tooth enamel strong and reduce bacteria.

6) What foods should be avoided during orthodontic treatment?

Sticky, hard, sweet or fizzy foods can damage brackets and increase the risk of cavities.

7) Does exercise cause problems during orthodontics?

Low-impact sports do not cause problems, but in high-risk sports, a mouth guard should be used.

8) What actions should be taken if the brackets are damaged?

See an orthodontist immediately if a bracket or wire breaks or moves.

9) What is the importance of visiting an orthodontist regularly?

Periodic consultation will check the condition of brackets, wires and the health of the teeth, and the treatment process will continue well.

10) What is the golden tip for successful care of orthodontic teeth?

Strictly following brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and orthodontist's instructions will ensure successful treatment and healthy teeth.

About the author:

In 1379, I was accepted in the national entrance exam of universities with a distinguished rank (5th rank) in the experimental field and started studying at Mashhad Dental School. During my academic period, I was one of the distinguished students of this faculty and I received many academic awards. And finally, in 2018, by defending my thesis on "The effect of bone growth factor on jaw problems", I managed to obtain a specialized doctorate degree in dentistry and became a member of the country's medical system organization and the World Association of Orthodontic Specialists.