Oral Hygiene

Having good oral hygiene is something that is very important, especially if you have braces.

When you have braces, your teeth are more difficult to clean. During your first appointment at Orthodontic Associates of New England, we will give you specific instructions on how to properly clean your teeth and gums. Along with those instructions, we ask that you brush your teeth after every meal and snack. This will help keep your oral cavity healthy and strong, and it will also keep your teeth free of cavities and decay. We also recommend keeping a toothbrush handy at all times. You should be brushing your teeth at school and work whenever you get the chance. When you do this, you will need to replace your toothbrush often because the braces will make the bristles in the toothbrush wear down.

When you complete your orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will give you a retainer. You will need to frequently wear this retainer to keep your teeth nice and straight. When you wear the product, it will become dirty and worn down, and it is very important to take care of it. You should clean your retainer every day, which should involve soaking it in a cleaning product when it is not in your mouth. You can keep it in a mouth rinse or denture cleaning agent to keep it away from bacteria. We also recommend keeping the retainer from heat. If it gets too hot, it could melt or crack, which would ruin the retainer.

To learn more about oral hygiene, call our office today and talk to a member of our team!