Braces are a long-term commitment to beautiful and healthy teeth. In essence, braces are a tool that orthodontists use to correct problems with the teeth or the jaw, such as an overbite or overcrowded teeth. About four million people wear braces, and about 25% of people who wear braces are adults.
The most important thing to know about braces is that they remain on your teeth for months or years. This means that you need to be especially mindful about your oral hygiene and dental care while you’re wearing them. This might sound stressful, but don’t worry!
In this article, we will go over three important oral health tools that you can safely use while wearing braces:
In order to keep your teeth healthy, shiny, and strong, you will need excellent products that can keep your teeth in tip-top shape as your braces do their job.
Brushing your teeth is a big deal. Accordingly to the American Dental Association, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Developing a solid, daily brushing routine is SUPER important for keeping your teeth (1) healthy and (2) beautiful.
When you eat, you end up with food particles and other gunk in and around the teeth. When you’re wearing braces, food and other debris can end up trapped under the braces themselves. This puts your teeth at risk of damage, since bacteria can eat away at the enamel of the teeth if you don’t brush often enough.
Brushee is a unique tool that removes bacteria and food residue, so you don’t have to fret about keeping your smile shiny and fresh!
So what, exactly, is Brushee? It is a three-in-one toothbrush with all of the essential tools that you use to help keep your smile bright.
First -- the brush. It might sound obvious, but the bristles themselves are an essential tool for removing food residue from your teeth.
The bristles help scrap food particles and other gunk from your tooth surface, from around your gums, and from your tongue. Brushing properly -- a general rule of thumb is that your should brush for a minute or two in a circular fashion around your whole mouth -- at least twice day has significant benefits. By brushing your teeth, you’re reducing your risk for cavities and gum disease, as well as freshening up your breath!
If your toothbrush is the Batman of dental tools, toothpaste is Robin. A trusted and necessary sidekick that contains an ingredient that is especially helpful for keeping your teeth healthy and strong: fluoride.
In short, fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that protects your teeth against decay. While you don’t need toothpaste to get rid of food debris and residue (the mechanical action of brushing your teeth gets rids of those things), you do need toothpaste to help prevent cavities.
Cavities are part of the demineralization process, and fluoride directly combats that process by disrupting the dental plaque which can eat away at your enamel. Plus, the minty fresh taste of toothpaste makes brushing your teeth a more pleasant experience, as well as helping boost good breath.
Finally, the floss. Floss is a particularly good way to remove food debris from between the teeth that is otherwise too hard to reach with a toothbrush.
So, we have covered why toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss are great tools for keeping your teeth healthy. And if you are wearing braces, you want to be extra confident in using these three tools to protect your smile because braces can make it easier for food and other residue to take the shine out of your smile.
You also probably don’t want to bring your dental hygiene from home around with you. The good news that you don’t have to do that. Not only does Brushee cover all your oral health needs, it is perfect for travel.
Brushee is a 3-in-1 dental tool that is portable and easy-to-use. The toothbrush comes pre-pasted, which means you don’t need to worry about carrying a toothbrush and a toothpaste separately. The Brushee also functions as a toothpick, which is always a handy tool to have on you, especially if you’re out and about in the world. Finally, Brushee has a flossing component that means you can get popcorn kernels out of your teeth whenever.
No more waiting to get home to get your teeth clean. Now, you can take proper care of your teeth at school, work, home, vacation, and anywhere else you can think of!
Mouthwash is a great tool to pair with your Brushee. While mouthwash does not replace brushing your teeth, it does add protection and (in some cases) fluoride to your daily dental routine.
According to the American Dental Association, some mouthwashes are cosmetic. These types of mouthwashes are used to improve the breath and make your mouth taste awesome. Mmm, minty fresh!
Some mouthwashes are therapeutic. These types of mouthwashes are used to reduce plaque and kill bacteria. While therapeutic mouthwashes don’t replace daily brushing and flossing, they do provide an excellent way to help protect teeth that have braces on them.
Therapeutic mouthwashes can get into all of the nooks and crannies that the toothbrush and floss may not be able to reach. While these hidden areas may not seem all that important, they are places where bacteria can get comfortable and start to grow. This means you could end up with some surprise cavities or some yellowing of the enamel.
Pairing mouthwash with your Brushee is a great way to reduce cavities and gum disease risk, as well as guarantee that your teeth will be white and shiny (and straight!) once your braces are removed. If you think mouthwash might be a good addition to your daily, oral health care routine, ask your dentist what they suggest during your next checkup!
Maybe you’ve heard of an oral irrigator before. These types of dental tools can go by all sorts of names, but they share similar qualities.
An oral irrigator is another way to floss your teeth. The irrigator uses pressurized water to remove bacteria and food residue from your teeth and gums. Occasionally, an oral irrigator will use air instead of water, but the result is the same -- a cleaner mouth with bacteria-free gums.
Oral irrigators can be especially useful for someone wearing braces. While it is certainly possible to use traditional strand floss while using braces, it can be difficult (or just annoying) to try and maneuver the floss strand around the dental apparatus. An oral irrigator removes that problem, allowing you to get into all the nooks and crannies of your teeth without extra effort.
If you think an oral irrigator might be the best tool for you, make sure the oral irrigator you choose is approved by the American Dental Association. The ADA gives a seal of approval to all dental tools that meet their standards, and it is important to make sure that the oral irrigator you choose is going to do its job well.
Taking care of your teeth while wearing braces may sound like a pain, but it doesn’t have to be. Maintaining proper dental hygiene habits are easy to do with tools like Brushee, mouthwash, and oral irrigators.
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