Oral Hygiene

At Dr. Dann Orthodontics, our number one priority is our patients. As such, we do everything possible to ensure the health and beauty of their smiles. This includes emphasizing the importance of oral hygiene at home. Once you begin orthodontic treatment at either our Winter Park or Orlando, FL location, it is just as important to come in for regular visits with Dr. Dann as it is to maintain good oral hygiene in your daily life. In particular, it is vital that you stick with a regular and thorough brushing and flossing routine. 

Why It Matters

The best way to ensure a clean and healthy smile is by brushing and flossing. Over time, food particles left around teeth and braces can turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation can then lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.

Throughout the braces or Invisalign  process, proper brushing and flossing can often be overlooked, which makes this period a time when your teeth are increasingly vulnerable to the threat of bacteria-based decay.

But, never fear. To protect yourself from these plaque problems while you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, brush and floss every day utilizing Dr. Dann’s recommended best practices for brushing and flossing. By caring for your teeth, gums, and braces in this way, you will ensure the best possible result when that orthodontia finally does come off!

Brushing 

Dr. Dann Orthodontics suggests using a toothbrush with soft bristles (preferably a Sonicare Tooth Brush, as it is the best toothbrush for cleaning around orthodontic appliances). He also recommends using the fluoride toothpaste Clinpro 5000  once a day before bed, and Plaque HD (our newest orthodontist-endorsed toothpaste) twice a day as a regular toothpaste.

For Best Brushing:

  • Add a small strip of fluoride toothpaste to your toothbrush. 
  • Hold the toothbrush at an angle and begin slowly and carefully moving the brush in small, circular motions around your teeth. 
  • Angle up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth, and down on the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of your front and back teeth as well. 
  • Thoroughly cover all areas between teeth, between braces, and on the surface of each tooth. 
  • Also, don’t forget to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before rinsing. 
  • The whole process should take you several minutes.

For superior oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, brush four times a day in order to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your teeth and braces.

Preferably, Brush Your Teeth:

  • In the morning after breakfast
  • After lunch or right after school
  • After supper
  • At bedtime

You will need to replace your toothbrush more often due to the wear and tear of your orthodontic appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. 

It may be difficult for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire, but keep at it nonetheless, as it is very important that your teeth and orthodontia remain clean. Furthermore, once brushing is complete, it is also extremely important that you follow-up with an antibacterial mouthwash and a round of good flossing.

Flossing & the Waterpik

For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Even though this process might take more time and patience when you are wearing braces, it is still important to floss your teeth every day using Dr. Dann Orthodontics’ recommended technique. In Addition, to amplify results, Dr. Dann recommends utilizing the Waterpik (water flosser) along the way. It is a highly effective flossing tool that, when used properly, can be twice as effective as cleaning around braces.

To Get The Most Out of Your Flossing:

  • Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser through the reusable floss threader provided by our Winter Park or Orlando, FL office.
  • Slide floss up and down along the front of each tooth. (You will be able to feel when each tooth is clean because you will hear the squeak of the floss against it.) 
  • Floss under your archwire. (Be careful though; do not floss too forcefully around archwire or apply too much pressure on it.) 
  • Make sure you floss everywhere between your archwire and braces, and your other teeth and gums too.

If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between teeth all the way to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque as you go. Continuously unwrap clean floss from around your fingers so that you have used the strand floss from beginning to end by the time you finish. 

Don't Forget:

  • Floss behind all your back teeth.
  • Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. 
  • Don’t be alarmed if, when you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums bleed a little. Usually this goes away quickly. 
  • If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next appointment.

Bonus:

As an orthodontist, Dr. Dann believes it is very important that his Winter Park and Orlando, FL patients be as informed as possible. So, to learn more about your oral hygiene, and what you can do to protect your teeth, check out the following readings on oral hygiene and tooth care:

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Improve Your Smile Today!

Dr. Dann and his team would like to thank you for being a patient of our Winter Park and Orlando, FL practice. It is a privilege for us to be able to help you achieve the straighter, more confident smile you’ve always wanted. And accordingly, we consider it our responsibility and pleasure to help you understand what you can do at home to keep your teeth as healthy as possible.

For additional questions or concerns in regards to oral hygiene, or to inquire about our many treatment options, like braces or Invisalign, please call us at 407-894-3271 for the Orlando, FL office, and 407-671-4262 for the Winter Park, FL office. Or, fill out our appointment request form online and one of our team members will get back to you shortly.

We look forward to hearing from you!