A perfect dental hygiene
Fixed appliances (such as braces or small appliances fixed to the palate) retain food, promoting the development of plaque and therefore bacteria. Brushing after lunch is desirable, using a manual toothbrush with "medium" bristles or an electric toothbrush.
Orthodontic treatment must be accompanied by impeccable dental hygiene. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing numerous and voluminous cavities, as well as gingivitis, which can worsen and destroy the bone around the teeth.
It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day :
- in the morning after breakfast for 3 minutes
- and in the evening before going to bed for 3 minutes
It may be useful to use an hourglass.
Hydropulsors can be used in addition to the brush. They can be useful for removing food debris and massaging the gums. However, they are not effective enough to remove bacteria from dental plaque, and they do not replace toothbrushes or interdental brushes in any way.
Interdental brushes and dental floss are an integral part of brushing. The toothbrush does not clean between the teeth. A large part of dental problems (cavities, tooth decay, loosening...) start between the teeth because bacteria stagnate there. If the gums are healthy, the brushing should be done once a day, ideally in the evening. In case of gum disease, it may be necessary to brush 2 to 3 times a day. If the interdental spaces are too narrow, the brushes should be replaced with dental floss.
Tooth brushing technique
First of all, stand in front of a mirror so that you can control your brushing technique. Then, place a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on top of your toothbrush, without adding water, for the duration of brushing.
To clean all your teeth without forgetting, simply brush them in the same order, first washing the upper and then the lower ones.
You can start, for example, with the sides of the teeth on the cheek side, at the back of the mouth, at the top left.
Proceed according to the following steps :
- Place the brush at the tooth/gum junction and angle it at a 45-degree angle to the teeth.
- With a semi-circular movement of the wrist, make the brush make a rolling movement from the gum towards the tooth, and only in this direction, to remove plaque and food debris. Repeat this movement two or three times for every two teeth. Clean all sides of your upper teeth from the cheek or lip side to the last right molar.
- Brush all the tongue sides of the upper teeth in the same way.
- To brush the tongue side of your front teeth (incisors) more easily, position the brush vertically.
- Finally, brush the top surfaces of your teeth (chewing surfaces). To do this, brush back and forth from back to front at least ten times per side.
Once your upper teeth have been cleaned, brush your lower teeth by repeating the same steps. But be careful, for the lower teeth, you must brush from the bottom up.
Then brush your tongue (because there are germs there too) and rinse your mouth well.
Finally, run your brush under water before putting it away.
Foods to be avoided during treatment
In addition to oral hygiene, you also need to pay attention to what you eat and your habits that involve your teeth. Indeed, certain foods and habits can cause your braces to deteriorate, which may require additional visits to repair them and cause further delays in your treatment.
Certain basic rules are therefore recommended to minimize these inconveniences.
The following is a list of foods that are prohibited during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (such as braces or fixed braces on the palate) :
- Nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios
- Hard and sticky sweets (caramels, carambar, dragibus, etc...)
- Popcorn
- Chocolate squares (for addicts, let it melt)
- Hard ice from the freezer, ice cubes
- Raw vegetables, apples and pears should be cut into small pieces before eating
- Fruits with stones must be pitted: cherries, peaches, apricots, olives, etc
- Crunchy foods : salad croutons, M&Ms, etc...
- Gum !
There are of course no dietary restrictions with removable appliances (such as Invisalign® gutters or false palates) as it is necessary to remove them before eating.
A perfect dental hygiene
Fixed appliances (such as braces or small appliances fixed to the palate) retain food, promoting the development of plaque and therefore bacteria. Brushing after lunch is desirable, using a manual toothbrush with "medium" bristles or an electric toothbrush.
Orthodontic treatment must be accompanied by impeccable dental hygiene. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing numerous and voluminous cavities, as well as gingivitis, which can worsen and destroy the bone around the teeth.
It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day :
- in the morning after breakfast for 3 minutes
- and in the evening before going to bed for 3 minutes
It may be useful to use an hourglass.
Hydropulsors can be used in addition to the brush. They can be useful for removing food debris and massaging the gums. However, they are not effective enough to remove bacteria from dental plaque, and they do not replace toothbrushes or interdental brushes in any way.
Interdental brushes and dental floss are an integral part of brushing. The toothbrush does not clean between the teeth. A large part of dental problems (cavities, tooth decay, loosening...) start between the teeth because bacteria stagnate there. If the gums are healthy, the brushing should be done once a day, ideally in the evening. In case of gum disease, it may be necessary to brush 2 to 3 times a day. If the interdental spaces are too narrow, the brushes should be replaced with dental floss.
Tooth brushing technique
First of all, stand in front of a mirror so that you can control your brushing technique. Then, place a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on top of your toothbrush, without adding water, for the duration of brushing.
To clean all your teeth without forgetting, simply brush them in the same order, first washing the upper and then the lower ones.
You can start, for example, with the sides of the teeth on the cheek side, at the back of the mouth, at the top left.
Proceed according to the following steps :
- Place the brush at the tooth/gum junction and angle it at a 45-degree angle to the teeth.
- With a semi-circular movement of the wrist, make the brush make a rolling movement from the gum towards the tooth, and only in this direction, to remove plaque and food debris. Repeat this movement two or three times for every two teeth. Clean all sides of your upper teeth from the cheek or lip side to the last right molar.
- Brush all the tongue sides of the upper teeth in the same way.
- To brush the tongue side of your front teeth (incisors) more easily, position the brush vertically.
- Finally, brush the top surfaces of your teeth (chewing surfaces). To do this, brush back and forth from back to front at least ten times per side.
Once your upper teeth have been cleaned, brush your lower teeth by repeating the same steps. But be careful, for the lower teeth, you must brush from the bottom up.
Then brush your tongue (because there are germs there too) and rinse your mouth well.
Finally, run your brush under water before putting it away.
Foods to be avoided during treatment
In addition to oral hygiene, you also need to pay attention to what you eat and your habits that involve your teeth. Indeed, certain foods and habits can cause your braces to deteriorate, which may require additional visits to repair them and cause further delays in your treatment.
Certain basic rules are therefore recommended to minimize these inconveniences.
The following is a list of foods that are prohibited during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (such as braces or fixed braces on the palate) :
- Nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios
- Hard and sticky sweets (caramels, carambar, dragibus, etc...)
- Popcorn
- Chocolate squares (for addicts, let it melt)
- Hard ice from the freezer, ice cubes
- Raw vegetables, apples and pears should be cut into small pieces before eating
- Fruits with stones must be pitted: cherries, peaches, apricots, olives, etc
- Crunchy foods : salad croutons, M&Ms, etc...
- Gum !
There are of course no dietary restrictions with removable appliances (such as Invisalign® gutters or false palates) as it is necessary to remove them before eating.
