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BRUSHING AND FLOSSING
POOR ORAL HYGIENE CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TEETH. THIS INCLUDES CAVITIES, GUM DISEASE, AND PERMANENT WHITE, YELLOW OR BROWN MARKS ON THE AREAS OF THE TEETH EXPOSED TO POOR ORAL HYGIENE. THE AREAS COVERED BY THE BRACES ARE PROTECTED FROM BEING DAMAGED.
SO, IT IS NOT THE BRACES THAT DAMAGES THE TEETH, BUT RATHER, POOR ORAL HYGIENE.
IT IS RECOMMENDED TO BRUSH AFTER EVERY MEAL AND TO FLOSS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY.
YOU SHOULD VISIT THE GENERAL DENTIST AND HYGIENIST EVERY 3-6 MONTHS FOR CLEANINGS, AND 6-12 MONTHS FOR CHECK UPS. DR. THOMPSON RECOMMENDS USING ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES AND WATERPIKS.
IN ADDITION, A FLUORIDE GEL IS RECOMMENDED TO PROTECT THE TEETH FROM FORMING WHITE SPOTS AND CAVITIES.
HOW TO BRUSH AND FLOSS
THE TOOTHBRUSH IS HELD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND ROTATED IN CIRCULAR MOTIONS ALONG THE GUMLINE. TWO OR THREE TEETH ARE BRUSHED AT A TIME FOR ABOUT 10 STROKES. DO THE SAME THING ABOVE THE BRACES, AND BRUSH ALONG THE CHEWING AND BACK SURFACES OF THE TEETH.
BRUSH FOR AT LEAST 2 MINUTES.
USE AN INTERPROXIMAL TOOTHBRUSH TO BRUSH ALONG THE SIDES OF THE BRACES.
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FLOSSING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REMOVES THE FOOD AND PLAQUE FROM BETWEEN THE TEETH.
A FLOSS THREADER CAN BE USED TO FLOSS WITH BRACES. THE THREADER LOOKS LIKE A LARGE NEEDLE. THE FLOSS IS THREADED THROUGH THE FLOSSER AND GUIDED UNDER THE WIRE. THE FLOSS IS THEN PUSHED BETWEEN THE TEETH AND USING A C- MOTION, IS MOVED UP AND DOWN AGAINST THE SIDES OF THE TWO TEETH. IT IS THEN REMOVED AND A FRESH SECTION OF THE FLOSS IS USED BETWEEN THE NEXT SET OF TEETH.
OTHER FLOSSING TOOLS CAN ALSO BE USED E.G. PLACKERS ORTHO PICKS AND PLATYPUS FLOSSERS.
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FOODS TO AVOID
THE GENERAL RULE IS TO AVOID STICKY, CHEWY AND CRUNCHY FOODS AND SUGARY DRINKS.
SOME EXAMPLES:
POPCORN, NUTS, BUBBLEGUM, CORN ON THE COB, CHIPS, HARD CANDY, SODA, ICE, JERKY, PIZZA CRUST, CARAMEL, NOW OR LATERS, TAFFY, RAW VEGETABLES, GUMMY BEARS
THESE ITEMS CAN CAUSE YOUR BRACES TO BREAK OFF FROM THE TEETH. FREQUENT BROKEN BRACES WILL EXTEND THE TREATMENT TIME.
ALL LARGE FOODS MUST BE CUT UP OR TORN INTO SMALL PIECES AND PLACED IN THE BACK OF THE MOUTH E.G. APPLES, MEAT, SANDWICHES.DO NOT USE THE FRONT TEETH FOR TEARING AS THIS ACTION MAY BREAK/DISATTACH THE BRACES FROM THE TEETH.
BITING ON FINGERNAILS, PICKING AT THE BRACES AND CHEWING ON PENS, PENCILS ETC. CAN ALL BREAK THE BRACES.